Estudio comparativo espacio temporal de las concentraciones de PM10 en la zona urbana del Cantón Cuenca, entre los años 2014 - 2022

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the concentration of PM10 particulate matter in the urban area of the canton of Cuenca during the period between 2014 and 2022. It focused on performing a spatiotemporal analysis that included identifying pollution levels and comparing them with current legal regulations. The study was divided into three phases: i) data collection from three meteorological stations, ii) multi-temporal analysis of the PM10 pollutant by combining multispectral remote sensing imagery, and iii) analysis and interpretation of the results obtained. During the analysis, it was established that the station in the Municipality of Cuenca (MUN) had the highest concentrations of the pollutant, possibly due to its location in the center of the urban area, where vehicle density is significant. For the years 2014 and 2017, a trend ranging from -0.4 to -0.5 PM10 (ug/m3) was identified, while in the year 2018, an increase in the pollutant was recorded. From 2019 to 2020, a decrease in particulate matter concentrations was verified, reaching a minimum of -2.0 PM10 (ug/m3). This phenomenon could be attributed to measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2021, an increase in the pollutant was observed, exceeding 0.5 PM10 (ug/m3), and from this year on, an upward trend in the concentrations of this pollutant was verified.