ABSTRACT
This study analyzed the impacts of meteorological conditions and changes in air pollutant emissions on PM2.5 across the country during the first quarter of 2020 based on the WRF-CMAQ model. Results showed that the variations in meteorological conditions led to a national PM2.5 concentration decreased of 1.7% from 2020-01 to 2020-03, whereas it increased by 1.6% in January and decreased by 1.3% and 7.9% in February and March, respectively. The reduction of pollutants emissions led to a decrease of 14.1% in national PM2.5 concentration during the first quarter of 2020 and a decrease of 4.0%, 25.7%, and 15.0% in January, February, and March, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the PM2.5 concentration measured in Wuhan City decreased more than in the entire country. This was caused by improved meteorological conditions and a higher reduction of pollutant emissions in Wuhan City. PM2.5 in Beijing increased annually before the epidemic outbreak and during the strict control period, mainly due to unfavorable meteorological conditions. However, the decrease in PM2.5 in Beijing compared to March 2019 was closely related to the substantial reduction of emissions. The measured PM2.5 in the "2+26" cities, the Fenwei Plain and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) decreased during the first quarter of 2020, with the largest drop occurring in the Yangtze River Delta due to higher YRD emissions reductions. The meteorological conditions of "2+26" cities and Fenwei Plain were unfavorable before the epidemic outbreak and greatly improved during the strict control period, whereas the Yangtze River Delta had the most favorable meteorological conditions in March. The decrease in PM2.5 concentration caused by the reduction of pollutant emissions in the three key areas was highest during the strict control period.