Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)

GAMs were implemented to evaluate the spatial variation in concentrations of 33 elements in PM<sub>10</sub>, in their water-soluble and insoluble fractions used as tracers for different emission sources. Data were collected during monitoring campaigns (November 2016–February 2018) in the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mariacarmela Cusano, Alessandra Gaeta, Raffaele Morelli, Giorgio Cattani, Silvia Canepari, Lorenzo Massimi, Gianluca Leone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/464
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850183627882627072
author Mariacarmela Cusano
Alessandra Gaeta
Raffaele Morelli
Giorgio Cattani
Silvia Canepari
Lorenzo Massimi
Gianluca Leone
author_facet Mariacarmela Cusano
Alessandra Gaeta
Raffaele Morelli
Giorgio Cattani
Silvia Canepari
Lorenzo Massimi
Gianluca Leone
author_sort Mariacarmela Cusano
collection DOAJ
description GAMs were implemented to evaluate the spatial variation in concentrations of 33 elements in PM<sub>10</sub>, in their water-soluble and insoluble fractions used as tracers for different emission sources. Data were collected during monitoring campaigns (November 2016–February 2018) in the Terni basin (an urban and industrial hotspot of Central Italy), using an innovative experimental approach based on high-spatial-resolution (23 sites, approximately 1 km apart) monthly samplings and the chemical characterization of PM<sub>10</sub>. For each element, a model was developed using monthly mean concentrations as the response variable. As covariates, the temporal predictors included meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, irradiance, precipitation, planet boundary layer height), while the spatial predictors encompassed distances from major sources, road length, building heights, land use variables, imperviousness, and population. A stepwise procedure was followed to determine the model with the optimal set of covariates. A leave-one-out cross-validation method was used to estimate the prediction error. Statistical indicators (Adjusted R-Squared, RMSE, FAC2, FB) were used to evaluate the performance of the GAMs. The spatial distribution of the fitted values of PM<sub>10</sub> and its elemental components, weighted over all sampling periods, was mapped at a resolution of 100 m.
format Article
id doaj-art-694a4a734bb648a08ba247f8bd1f22d6
institution OA Journals
issn 2073-4433
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-694a4a734bb648a08ba247f8bd1f22d62025-08-20T02:17:19ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-04-0116446410.3390/atmos16040464Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)Mariacarmela Cusano0Alessandra Gaeta1Raffaele Morelli2Giorgio Cattani3Silvia Canepari4Lorenzo Massimi5Gianluca Leone6Department for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Biology (DBA), Sapienza University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Biology (DBA), Sapienza University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyGAMs were implemented to evaluate the spatial variation in concentrations of 33 elements in PM<sub>10</sub>, in their water-soluble and insoluble fractions used as tracers for different emission sources. Data were collected during monitoring campaigns (November 2016–February 2018) in the Terni basin (an urban and industrial hotspot of Central Italy), using an innovative experimental approach based on high-spatial-resolution (23 sites, approximately 1 km apart) monthly samplings and the chemical characterization of PM<sub>10</sub>. For each element, a model was developed using monthly mean concentrations as the response variable. As covariates, the temporal predictors included meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, irradiance, precipitation, planet boundary layer height), while the spatial predictors encompassed distances from major sources, road length, building heights, land use variables, imperviousness, and population. A stepwise procedure was followed to determine the model with the optimal set of covariates. A leave-one-out cross-validation method was used to estimate the prediction error. Statistical indicators (Adjusted R-Squared, RMSE, FAC2, FB) were used to evaluate the performance of the GAMs. The spatial distribution of the fitted values of PM<sub>10</sub> and its elemental components, weighted over all sampling periods, was mapped at a resolution of 100 m.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/464air pollutionPM<sub>10</sub>elementssource tracergeneralized additive model (GAM)spatial mapping
spellingShingle Mariacarmela Cusano
Alessandra Gaeta
Raffaele Morelli
Giorgio Cattani
Silvia Canepari
Lorenzo Massimi
Gianluca Leone
Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
Atmosphere
air pollution
PM<sub>10</sub>
elements
source tracer
generalized additive model (GAM)
spatial mapping
title Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
title_full Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
title_fullStr Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
title_short Spatial Modeling of Trace Element Concentrations in PM<sub>10</sub> Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs)
title_sort spatial modeling of trace element concentrations in pm sub 10 sub using generalized additive models gams
topic air pollution
PM<sub>10</sub>
elements
source tracer
generalized additive model (GAM)
spatial mapping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/464
work_keys_str_mv AT mariacarmelacusano spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT alessandragaeta spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT raffaelemorelli spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT giorgiocattani spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT silviacanepari spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT lorenzomassimi spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams
AT gianlucaleone spatialmodelingoftraceelementconcentrationsinpmsub10subusinggeneralizedadditivemodelsgams