Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations

This study compares long-term air pollution trends and seasonal patterns in Beijing and Seoul from 2014 to 2024, focusing on PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, and O<sub>3</sub>. Using statistical analyses including Mann–Kendall tests and generalized...

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Main Authors: Hana Na, Woo-Sik Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/753
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author Hana Na
Woo-Sik Jung
author_facet Hana Na
Woo-Sik Jung
author_sort Hana Na
collection DOAJ
description This study compares long-term air pollution trends and seasonal patterns in Beijing and Seoul from 2014 to 2024, focusing on PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, and O<sub>3</sub>. Using statistical analyses including Mann–Kendall tests and generalized additive models, we found that Beijing achieved notable reductions in particulate matter, largely due to stricter industrial controls and reduced coal use, though winter pollution peaks remain. In contrast, Seoul’s improvements were slower, mainly due to persistent vehicular emissions and recurring spring dust storms from northern China. Seasonal analysis showed winter peaks in Beijing linked to coal heating, and spring peaks in Seoul driven by transboundary dust, with higher summer ozone in Seoul reflecting photochemical activity. These findings highlight the need for city-specific air quality management and regional cooperation, recommending further reductions in vehicular emissions for Seoul and continued transition from coal in Beijing to mitigate health impacts. This study identifies specific seasonal trends and pollution sources that require targeted policy interventions to improve air quality.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2073-4433
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-a6e7d83e6c5f4a009bc56dc071570d562025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-06-0116775310.3390/atmos16070753Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal VariationsHana Na0Woo-Sik Jung1Department of Atmospheric Environment Information Engineering, Typhoon-Ready Center, Atmospheric Environment Information Research Center, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Atmospheric Environment Information Engineering, Typhoon-Ready Center, Atmospheric Environment Information Research Center, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of KoreaThis study compares long-term air pollution trends and seasonal patterns in Beijing and Seoul from 2014 to 2024, focusing on PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, and O<sub>3</sub>. Using statistical analyses including Mann–Kendall tests and generalized additive models, we found that Beijing achieved notable reductions in particulate matter, largely due to stricter industrial controls and reduced coal use, though winter pollution peaks remain. In contrast, Seoul’s improvements were slower, mainly due to persistent vehicular emissions and recurring spring dust storms from northern China. Seasonal analysis showed winter peaks in Beijing linked to coal heating, and spring peaks in Seoul driven by transboundary dust, with higher summer ozone in Seoul reflecting photochemical activity. These findings highlight the need for city-specific air quality management and regional cooperation, recommending further reductions in vehicular emissions for Seoul and continued transition from coal in Beijing to mitigate health impacts. This study identifies specific seasonal trends and pollution sources that require targeted policy interventions to improve air quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/753PM2.5PM10CONO<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>
spellingShingle Hana Na
Woo-Sik Jung
Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
Atmosphere
PM2.5
PM10
CO
NO<sub>2</sub>
SO<sub>2</sub>
O<sub>3</sub>
title Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
title_full Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
title_fullStr Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
title_short Comparative Analysis of Air Pollution in Beijing and Seoul: Long-Term Trends and Seasonal Variations
title_sort comparative analysis of air pollution in beijing and seoul long term trends and seasonal variations
topic PM2.5
PM10
CO
NO<sub>2</sub>
SO<sub>2</sub>
O<sub>3</sub>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/753
work_keys_str_mv AT hanana comparativeanalysisofairpollutioninbeijingandseoullongtermtrendsandseasonalvariations
AT woosikjung comparativeanalysisofairpollutioninbeijingandseoullongtermtrendsandseasonalvariations