Spatiotemporal air quality variation between urban and agricultural areas: the influence of climatic factors and pollution dynamics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54386/jam.v27i2.2924Keywords:
Air Quality Index, Air pollution, Seasonal variation, Meteorology, Climate impact, GISAbstract
Air pollution is a critical environmental and meteorological concern, significantly influenced by climatic conditions and atmospheric dynamics. Hence, the present study examines seasonal and daily variations in the concentrations of air pollutants, such as CO, SO₂, NOₓ, and O₃, in Baghdad, based on the principle of meteorological influences during the wet and dry seasons. Data were collected at 23 transportation intersections in addition to an agricultural area during morning and afternoon periods. The results indicated a robust relationship between the levels of pollutants and meteorological conditions. Carbon monoxide showed an afternoon peak during the dry season owing to air stagnation (28.2–18.7 ppm). Ozone concentrations also heightened in this season due to increased temperature and photochemical reactions (0.515–0.35 ppm). Levels of ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides reflect over-national air quality standards, with maxima seen in the dry season and more so in the afternoons. The results of the Air Quality Index analysis show that the main factors causing a drastic decrease in quality during the dry season are higher temperatures, scanty rainfall, and increased levels of photochemical activity. This result emphasizes the need to integrate meteorology into urban planning to mitigate pollution.
References
Abdulateef, Z. N., Talib, A. H. and Sultan M. A. (2025). Effects of meteorological factors on greenhouse gas emissions at traffic intersections in Baghdad: a seasonal analysis. J. Agrometeorol., 27(1): 57-62. https://doi.org/10.54386/jam.v27i1.2820
Ahmed S. M., and Al-Ramahi. F. K. M. (2022). Evaluate the effect of relative humidity in the atmosphere of Baghdad city urban expansion using remote sensing data. Iraqi J. Sci., 63(4): 1848-1859. http://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2022.63.4.41
Ali, H. H., Wahab, B. I., and Al-Hmeed, H. M. A. (2024). Comprehensive air quality analysis in Karbala: Investigating the relationships between meteorological factors and pollutants across different landscapes. J. Agrometeorol., 26(4): 401–410. https://doi.org/10.54386/jam.v26i4.2665
Al-Qahtani A. I., Salama K. F., Alwadei M. M., Aljassim M. T., Alsaif A. S., Al-Warthan M., and Al-Mulla A. A. (2024). Air quality levels in the industrial city of Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Front. Environ. Engg., 11(3):1483568. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenve.2024.1483568
Al-Rikabi, R. J., Alqaralosy, H. N. W., and Sultan, M. A. (2024). The impact of human activities on air pollution in the Fallujah City, Al-Anbar Province – West Iraq. Asian J. Water, Environ. Pollut, 21(4): 31-38. https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW240043
ASGIS (Authority of Statistics and Geographic Information System). (2023). Iraqi Ministry of Planning. Online statistics data. https://www.cosit.gov.iq/ar/
Bade, K. J., Mueller, K.T. and Sparks, J.A. (2024). Air pollution and rheumatoid arthritis risk and progression: Implications for the mucosal origins hypothesis and climate change for RA pathogenesis. Curr Rheumatol Rep., 26: 343–353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-024-01160-x
Bertrand S. (2021). Fact sheet: Climate, environmental, and health impacts of fossil fuels. Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-climate-environmental-and-health-impacts-of-fossil-fuels-2021?utm
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2024). Technical assistance document for the reporting of daily air quality – the air quality index (AQI). Research Triangle Park, NC. https://www.airnow.gov/publications/air-quality-index/technical-assistance-document-for reporting-the-daily-aqi/
Hashim, B. M., Alnaemi, A. N. A., Sultan, M. A., Alraheem, E. A., Abduljabbar, S. A., Halder, B., Shahid, S., and Yaseen, Z. M. (Accepted/In press 2025). Impact of climate change on land use and relationship with land surface temperature: representative case study in Iraq. Acta Geophysica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-024-01514-0
Jasim, I. M., Al-kubaisi, A. A., and Al-Obaidy, A. M. J. (2018). Test the efficiency of some plants in the tolerant of air pollution within the city of Baghdad, Iraq. Baghdad Sci. J., 15(1):9-15. https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2018.15.1.0009
Khaleel H. A., Talib A. H., and Sultan M. A. (2024). Assessment of lung function in scavenger workers at some waste dumpsites in Baghdad city. Asian J. Water Enviro. Pollut., 21(2): 33-38. https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW240019
Muter, S. A., Al-Jiboori, M. H., and Al-Timimi, Y. K. (2025). Assessment of spatial and temporal monthly rainfall trend over Iraq. Baghdad Sci. J., 22(3):910-922. https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2024.10367
Nasser, M. S., Al-Hassany, J. S., and Al-Jiboori, M. H. (2024). Assessment of air pollution dispersion during wet season: A case study of Rumaila Combined Cycle Power Plant, Basrah, Iraq. J. Agrometeorol., 26(4): 411–418. https://doi.org/10.54386/jam.v26i4.2756
Olstrup H., Mohamed H. A. S., Honoré J., Schullehner J., Sigsgaard T., Forsberg B., and Oudin A. (2024). Air pollution exposure and inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic literature review of epidemiological and mechanistic studies. Front. Environ. Health., 3:1463016. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvh.2024.1463016
Shah. S.N., Manzoor S., and Asim M. (2021). Impact of industrial pollution on our society. Pakistan J. Sci., 73(1): 222-229. https://doi.org/10.57041/vol73iss1pp%25p
Shelton S., Liyanage G., Jayasekara S., Pushpawela B., Rathnayake U., Jayasundara A., and Jayasooriya, L. D. (2022). Seasonal variability of air pollutants and their relationships to meteorological parameters in an urban environment. Advan. Meteorol., 2022: 5628911. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5628911
Sokhi R., Singh V., Querol X., .............and Zavala M. (2021). A global observational analysis to understand changes in air quality during exceptionally low anthropogenic emission conditions. Environ. Intern.., 157: 106818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106818
Talib A. H., Abdulateef Z. N. and Ali Z. A. (2021). Measurement of some air pollutants in printing units and copy centers within Baghdad city. Baghdad Sci.J., 18(1)(Suppl.): 687-694. https://bsj.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/BSJ/article/view/3663
WHO (World Health Organization). (2023). Air Pollution and Health Effects. WHO Reports. https://www.who.int/home/searchresults?indexCatalogue=genericsearchindex1&searchQuery=Air%20Pollution%20and%20Health%20Effects.%20WHO%20Reports&wordsMode=AnyWord
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 ZAINAB N. ABDULATEEF, ADEL H. TALIB, MAITHAM A. SULTAN

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This is a human-readable summary of (and not a substitute for) the license. Disclaimer.
You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.