Title: The effect of COVID-19 lockdown and meteorological parameters on air pollutants in Samsun, Turkey

Authors: Hülya Aykaç Özen

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Atakum, Samsun, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, to determine the effect of the lockdown applied in Samsun, Turkey, between 1 March to 31 May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concentration of air pollutants parameters (PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂ and O₃) were measured at the same time interval of before lockdown and during the lockdown were compared. In addition, the relationship between the concentration of air pollutants and meteorological parameters such as wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, dew point and pressure was analysed statistically. The lockdown caused the most significant reduction in the concentration of NO₂, followed by SO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀. Unlike SO₂ and NO₂, PM₁₀ was less affected by lockdown since it also has natural sources. Between the meteorological parameters interested, wind speed and temperature showed a strong correlation with the air pollutants due to their transportation and conversion effects, while relative humidity, dew point and pressure showed a very weak correlation.

Keywords: air pollution; lockdown effect; meteorology; Samsun.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2022.125078

International Journal of Global Warming, 2022 Vol.28 No.1, pp.24 - 41

Received: 22 Oct 2021
Accepted: 24 Jan 2022
Published online: 25 Aug 2022 *

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