Spatial and Temporal Pattern Analysis of the Haze-Fog Pollution in China Based on the DPSIR Framework

Abstract:

Haze-fog pollution has become a serious threat to the socio-economic development and human health in China. It is of great importance to assess the frequency of haze-fog pollution occurrence and its risk factors. The objective of our study is to develop consistent methodologies for constructing an index for and assessing the risk factors of the haze-fog pollution occurrence based on the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework by incorporating spatial analysis, geographical detector, and geographically weighted regression models. Twenty-seven risk factors were selected for assessing their influences on the haze-fog pollution occurrence in 337 Chinese cities. The results indicate that the spatial pattern of the haze-fog pollution in China was largely consistent with the Chinese population-based Hu Line. Haze-fog pollution frequently occurred in North China, Central China, Northeast China, and East China and displayed strong seasonality. The risk factors of the haze-fog pollution were complex and diverse, varying from season to season. Risk factors analysis also shows that the explanatory power between any two risk factors was greater than that of a single risk factor of the haze-fog pollution. Furthermore, most risk factors had both positive and negative effects and local effects on haze-fog pollution. Our research findings may provide useful information for Chinese government to make policies on how to mitigate the haze-fog pollution in China.