Publication Date

Spring 5-4-2026

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Wei, Luo

Department

Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences

Abstract

Healthy living has long been a goal pursued by individuals. In an era where PM2.5 concentrations and greenhouse gas levels are steadily increasing, many people prefer to live in areas with relatively lower levels of air pollution. National parks, as well-known protected areas, typically contain more vegetation and water resources, along with lower levels of human activity. This suggests two potential mechanisms: first, pollutant emissions are expected to be lower; second, vegetation, water bodies, and non-urban land may contribute to the removal or deposition of airborne pollutants, including particulate matter. In everyday experience, people often perceive the air to be fresher when entering natural or protected environments.

Based on these assumptions, this study hypothesizes that national parks have a positive effect on air quality and attempts to quantify this effect. A series of statistical analyses, including regression models, quadratic regression, residual analysis, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), were applied to examine air quality patterns in areas surrounding national parks.

The results are counterintuitive: there is no clear or direct relationship between the concentration of air pollutants and the distance from national parks.

Download

Share

COinS