Mass concentration variations characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 in Guangzhou (China)

As the main pollutants in the atmosphere, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 get much attention and become primary focus recently due to their significant effect on human health. In this paper, the paralleled 24-hour average concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 during June 2012 to May 2013 are obtained from 13 monitoring stations which spread all over the Guangzhou (China). The characteristics variations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are analyzed using SPSS software. According to the curves of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, it can be found that these two curves (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) are considerable volatility but quite similar trend with high correlation. The regression analysis between PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are finished, the equation is PM₁₀=1.26*PM_2.5+3.28(R²=0.94). Meanwhile, the ratio (PM_2.5/PM₁₀) is analyzed to explore which one is the main pollution type in Guangzhou. Based on our work, we find that:(i) the ratio is range from 0.42 to 0.98 with the average value of 0.76, which suggests that PM_2.5 is the main pollution type and greater than PM_2.5-10 in Guangzhou; (ii) seasonal variation of the ratios are shown as followed: Winter (0.80) = Autumn (0.80) > Spring (0.76) > Summer (0.62). (iii) Spatially, the maximum value of the ratio (0.85) occurs in South (Panyu) of Guangzhou, followed by Center (0.76), North (Conghua, 0.75) and Northwest (Huadu, 0.72) of Guangzhou orderly. Lastly, the spatial concentration map of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 is drawn using GIS.