Investigation of the polar pattern of air pollution based on meteorological factors in the coastal strip of Mazandaran province Journal Article

Abstract:

Air pollution is one of the most significant environmental issues, as exposure to air pollutants is widely linked to various health problems. This study aimed to investigate the polar pattern of air pollution based on meteorological factors in the coastal belt of Mazandaran Province. Data on the concentrations of SO2, CO, NO2, and O3 from the TROPOMI sensor, along with meteorological variables (wind speed and direction), were analyzed for the period from 2018 through 2022. Time series plots, Wind Rose diagrams, Pollution Rose diagrams, and bivariate polar plots were employed for data analysis and identification of emission sources. The examination of temporal patterns revealed that, at most stations, the highest concentrations of SO2, CO, and NO2 occurred in 2021, while the peak O3 concentration was recorded in 2019. Annual analyses using Wind Rose and Pollution Rose diagrams indicated that the predominant wind direction associated with pollutant concentrations in Amirabad and Babolsar stations aligned with wind speed. In contrast, Ramsar and Nowshahr stations displayed different relationships between wind speed and pollutant concentration direction. Moreover, the polar patterns in the Wind Rose and Pollution Rose diagrams for two seasonal variables demonstrated that the directions of wind speed and pollutant concentration differed, with the highest concentration of each pollutant occurring at low wind speeds. The findings also indicated that the eastern areas of the Mazandaran coastal strip experience higher levels of air pollution compared to the western part of the study area, attributed to weather conditions, a higher density of industries, increased vehicle traffic, the Shahid Salimi Power Plant, Miankaleh peninsula, and the burning crop residues. Therefore, employing visual polar analysis for pollution management is expected to be highly effective.