The effect of COVID-19 lockdown and meteorological parameters on air pollutants in Samsun, Turkey


Aykaç Özen H.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GLOBAL WARMING, vol.28, no.1, pp.24-41, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 28 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1504/ijgw.2022.125078
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GLOBAL WARMING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, INSPEC, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.24-41
  • Keywords: air pollution, lockdown effect, meteorology, Samsun, SOURCE APPORTIONMENT, TROPOSPHERIC OZONE, SURFACE OZONE, NOX, URBAN, CORONAVIRUS, EMISSIONS, IMPACT, CHINA, PM2.5
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, to determine the effect of the lockdown applied in Samsun, Turkey, between 1 March to 31 May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concentration of air pollutants parameters (PM10, SO2, NO2 and O-3) were measured at the same time interval of before lockdown and during the lockdown were compared. In addition, the relationship between the concentration of air pollutants and meteorological parameters such as wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, dew point and pressure was analysed statistically. The lockdown caused the most significant reduction in the concentration of NO2, followed by SO2, O-3 and PM10. Unlike SO2 and NO2, PM10 was less affected by lockdown since it also has natural sources. Between the meteorological parameters interested, wind speed and temperature showed a strong correlation with the air pollutants due to their transportation and conversion effects, while relative humidity, dew point and pressure showed a very weak correlation.