Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data

Abstract Air pollution is a multifaceted issue affecting people’s health, environment, and biodiversity. Gaining comprehension of the interactions between natural and anthropocentric pollutant concentrations and local climate is challenging. This study aims to address the following two questions: (1...

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Main Authors: Hasan Yildizhan, Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu, Tugce Pekdogan, Arman Ameen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77989-0
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author Hasan Yildizhan
Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu
Tugce Pekdogan
Arman Ameen
author_facet Hasan Yildizhan
Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu
Tugce Pekdogan
Arman Ameen
author_sort Hasan Yildizhan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Air pollution is a multifaceted issue affecting people’s health, environment, and biodiversity. Gaining comprehension of the interactions between natural and anthropocentric pollutant concentrations and local climate is challenging. This study aims to address the following two questions: (1) What is the influential mechanism of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations in an urban environment during different seasons? (2) Can the ozone weekend effect be observed in a medium-sized city like Craiova, and under which conditions? In order to answer these questions, ozone interactions with meteorological parameters (temperature, pressure, relative humidity) and pollutant concentrations (particulate matter, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide) is evaluated based on a one-year dataset given by a low-cost sensor and one-year dataset provided by the National Environment Agency. Using two statistical analysis programs, Python and SPSS, a good understanding of the correlations between these variables and ozone concentration is obtained. The SPSS analysis underscores the significant impact of three meteorological factors and nine other pollutants on the ozone level. A positive correlation is noticed in the summer when sunlight is intense and photochemical reactions are elevated. The relationship between temperature and ozone concentration is strong and positive, as confirmed by Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient (r = 0.880). A significant negative correlation is found between relative humidity and ozone (r = -0.590). Moreover, the analysis shows that particulate matter concentrations exhibit a significant negative correlation with ozone (r ≈ -0.542), indicating that higher particulate matter concentrations reduce ozone levels. Volatile organic compounds show a significant negative correlation with ozone (r = -0.156). A negative relationship between ozone and carbon dioxide (r = -0.343), indicates that elevated carbon dioxide levels might also suppress ozone concentrations. A significant positive correlation between nitrogen dioxide and ozone (r = 0.060), highlights the role of nitrogen dioxide in the production of ozone through photochemical reactions. However, nitric oxide shows a negative correlation with ozone (r = -0.055) due to its role in ozone formation. Carbon monoxide has no statistically significant effect on ozone concentration. To observe the differences between weekdays and weekends, T-Test was used. Even though significant differences were observed in temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide levels between weekdays and weekends, the T-Test did not highlight a significant weekend ozone effect in a mid-sized city as Craiova. Using Python, the daily values were calculated and compared with the limit values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Environment Agency (EEA). The WHO O3 recommended levels were exceeded for 13 times in one year. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of ozone pollution in a mid-sized city as Craiova, serving as a valuable reference for local decision-makers. It provides critical insights into the seasonal dynamics of ozone levels, emphasizing the significant role of temperature in ozone formation and the complex interactions between various pollutants and meteorological factors.
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spelling doaj-art-fd420b07d3ad4e9186a4fd0e7b45942a2025-08-20T02:13:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-77989-0Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution dataHasan Yildizhan0Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu1Tugce Pekdogan2Arman Ameen3Engineering Faculty, Energy Systems Engineering, Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology UniversityFaculty of Science, Physics Department, University of CraiovaDepartment of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of GävleAbstract Air pollution is a multifaceted issue affecting people’s health, environment, and biodiversity. Gaining comprehension of the interactions between natural and anthropocentric pollutant concentrations and local climate is challenging. This study aims to address the following two questions: (1) What is the influential mechanism of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations in an urban environment during different seasons? (2) Can the ozone weekend effect be observed in a medium-sized city like Craiova, and under which conditions? In order to answer these questions, ozone interactions with meteorological parameters (temperature, pressure, relative humidity) and pollutant concentrations (particulate matter, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide) is evaluated based on a one-year dataset given by a low-cost sensor and one-year dataset provided by the National Environment Agency. Using two statistical analysis programs, Python and SPSS, a good understanding of the correlations between these variables and ozone concentration is obtained. The SPSS analysis underscores the significant impact of three meteorological factors and nine other pollutants on the ozone level. A positive correlation is noticed in the summer when sunlight is intense and photochemical reactions are elevated. The relationship between temperature and ozone concentration is strong and positive, as confirmed by Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient (r = 0.880). A significant negative correlation is found between relative humidity and ozone (r = -0.590). Moreover, the analysis shows that particulate matter concentrations exhibit a significant negative correlation with ozone (r ≈ -0.542), indicating that higher particulate matter concentrations reduce ozone levels. Volatile organic compounds show a significant negative correlation with ozone (r = -0.156). A negative relationship between ozone and carbon dioxide (r = -0.343), indicates that elevated carbon dioxide levels might also suppress ozone concentrations. A significant positive correlation between nitrogen dioxide and ozone (r = 0.060), highlights the role of nitrogen dioxide in the production of ozone through photochemical reactions. However, nitric oxide shows a negative correlation with ozone (r = -0.055) due to its role in ozone formation. Carbon monoxide has no statistically significant effect on ozone concentration. To observe the differences between weekdays and weekends, T-Test was used. Even though significant differences were observed in temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide levels between weekdays and weekends, the T-Test did not highlight a significant weekend ozone effect in a mid-sized city as Craiova. Using Python, the daily values were calculated and compared with the limit values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Environment Agency (EEA). The WHO O3 recommended levels were exceeded for 13 times in one year. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of ozone pollution in a mid-sized city as Craiova, serving as a valuable reference for local decision-makers. It provides critical insights into the seasonal dynamics of ozone levels, emphasizing the significant role of temperature in ozone formation and the complex interactions between various pollutants and meteorological factors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77989-0Monitoring systemOzone concentrationMeteorologyNatural and anthropocentric factorsPythonSPSS
spellingShingle Hasan Yildizhan
Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu
Tugce Pekdogan
Arman Ameen
Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
Scientific Reports
Monitoring system
Ozone concentration
Meteorology
Natural and anthropocentric factors
Python
SPSS
title Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
title_full Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
title_fullStr Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
title_full_unstemmed Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
title_short Observational study of ground-level ozone and climatic factors in Craiova, Romania, based on one-year high-resolution data
title_sort observational study of ground level ozone and climatic factors in craiova romania based on one year high resolution data
topic Monitoring system
Ozone concentration
Meteorology
Natural and anthropocentric factors
Python
SPSS
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77989-0
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