Characteristics of particulate matter (PM10) and its relationship with meteorological factors during 2001–2012 in Beijing

• Wavelet analysis was proposed to explore the temporal characteristics of PM10.
• The relationship of PM10 with meteorological factors was studied using gray analysis.
• The seasonal order of air quality is: summer > autumn > winter > spring.
• Atmospheric pressure was the most important meteorological feature affecting PM10.
• The results suggest the potential meteorological measures to control air pollution.

Atmospheric pollution has become a significant challenge in Beijing metropolitan region, China. In this study, wavelet analysis and gray analysis were proposed to explore the temporal characteristics of particulate matter (PM10) and its relationships with meteorological factors during 2001–2012. The analysis indicated that air quality had got better significantly over the last decade. It was clearly interannual, seasonal, and monthly variation of atmospheric pollution, which represented that the air quality was the worst in spring, and got better in summer, subsequently tended to be more serious in autumn and winter. Generally atmospheric pressure was the most important meteorological feature influencing on PM10, followed by relative humidity and wind speed. However, the dominant meteorological factors influencing the atmospheric pollution were different in the four seasons. The results suggest that urban design and effective measures based on the relationship between meteorological factors and PM10 would be effective for improving atmospheric pollution.

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