Seasonal Analysis of Meteorological Parameters and Air Pollutant Concentrations: A Case Study in Chennai, India

IJEP 46(6): 540-550 : Vol. 46 Issue 6 (June 2026)

Full Text

S. Shehnaz Fathima and P.S. Sheik Uduman*

B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, Vandalur, Chennai – 600 048, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

This study critically investigates the intricate linkages between atmospheric pollutants and meteorological variables in Chennai, India, where annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2022 exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended thresholds. The co-occurring global crises of air pollution and climate change significantly increase threats to human health, including diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and morbidity in children. Season-specific correlation analyses were conducted using Pearson and Spearman rank correlation to identify linear and non-linear associations between pollutant concentrations and meteorological variables. Student t-tests were used to assess the statistical significance of the identified associations. Dew point temperature emerged as a key meteorological variable, with a strong association found between dew point temperature and PM2.5 and PM10 levels, especially during summer and winter. These findings contribute to the understanding of air-quality dynamics in tropical marine landscapes and highlight the crucial role of weather in determining pollution trends in Chennai.

Keywords

Air pollutant, K-nearest neighbour, Meteorological variable, Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman rank correlation, Student’s t-test

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