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Abstract: air pollution has become the predominant environmental problem caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization in China. In this study, measurements of the concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃ at six monitoring stations in Baotou, China were used to investigate the characteristics of heavy haze pollution in Dec. 12–25, 2013. Source locations of PM_2.5 in Baotou were identified using satellite remote sensing data, an air mass trajectory model, and a conditional probability function (CPF). The results showed that the average concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were (113.8±84.0) μg/m³ and (211.1±149.2) μg/m³, respectively. The similar trends in temporal variation of the air pollutants PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and CO suggested they may share common sources. The results of satellite observations and backward trajectories supported the hypothesis that the pollutants causing the haze event originated mainly from local anthropogenic sources. According to the CPF analysis, low-speed winds from the south and southwest, upwind industrial emissions, and the northern mountains were mainly responsible for the formation of haze in Baotou. The study provides some insights to help governments optimize industrial layouts for improving air quality in the future.

It is of great interest and importance to study on air pollution in Baotou, a city with lots of industrial emission sources and located in northwest China. The pollution characteristics of Baotou is absolutely different with those in Beijing, where a lot of studies have been done.

包头市重灰霾特征分析及对重工业布局的启示

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