Comprehensive air quality analysis in Karbala: Investigating the relationships between meteorological factors and pollutants across different landscapes

Atmospheric elements interact with pollutants in complex, multidimensional ways, affecting air quality. Understanding these relationships requires a comprehensive analysis of time-series weather and pollutant data which has a negative or positive impact on the ecosystem and human health. This study examines the relationships between meteorological factors and air pollutants in Karbala, Iraq, using data from January 2021 to June 2024. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that photochemical smog (45-46%), particulate matter (20-22%), and meteorological effects on particulates (14-16%) are the main factors influencing air pollution. PM2.5 was the dominant pollutant, impacting air quality on 84-88% of days, followed by ozone on 12-16%. Winter showed the best air quality, while summer had no "Good" days. Among the four areas studied, the desert suburb had the cleanest air, and the industrial area the most polluted. These findings offer crucial insights for air quality management in the region.