The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown and Meteorological Parameters on Air Pollutants in 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. © 2022 Inderscience Publishers. All rights reserved.