TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF PM10 AND SO2 CONCENTRATION WITH THE USE OF GIS IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION CITIES OF TURKEY (2010-2020)

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of the mandatory use of natural gas for heating to prevent air pollution in 2020 in 9 provinces in the Southeast Anatolian Region (SAR), the fastest developing region of Turkey, that were using coal for heating in 2010. Monthly PM10 and SO2 concentrations of SAR provinces in 2010 and 2020 were analysed and evaluated by means of GIS-IDW mapping method. As a result of the 12-month evaluation, it was determined that the use of natural gas, especially in the winter months, reduced the PM10 and SO2, while it didn’t reduce the amount of SO2 in provinces with high population growth and increased number of vehicles (an increase of 288% in vehicles in Kilis and an increase of 35% in population in Sanliurfa). Regarding Turkey's SAR border provinces, it was determined that PM was transported atmospherically from the Sahara, Syrian and Arabian Peninsula desert in the spring and autumn months both in 2010 and 2020, and therefore an increase was found in PM10 by the HYSPLIT model. The countries are recommended to measure the PM10 and SO2 daily, which directly affect human health, create maps and develop policies to reduce the values.