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Evidence of air quality data misreporting in China: An impulse indicator saturation model comparison of local government-reported and U.S. embassy-reported PM2.5 concentrations (2015-2017)
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 4, p e0249063 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- This paper analyzes hourly PM2.5 measurements from government-controlled and U.S. embassy-controlled monitoring stations in five Chinese cities between January 2015 and June 2017. We compare the two datasets with an impulse indicator saturation technique that identifies hours when the relation between Chinese and U.S. reported data diverges in a statistically significant fashion. These temporary divergences, or impulses, are 1) More frequent than expected by random chance; 2) More positive than expected by random chance; and 3) More likely to occur during hours when air pollution concentrations are high. In other words, relative to U.S.-controlled monitoring stations, government-controlled stations systematically under-report pollution levels when local air quality is poor. These results contrast with the findings of other recent studies, which argue that Chinese air quality data misreporting ended after a series of policy reforms beginning in 2012. Our findings provide evidence that local government misreporting did not end after 2012, but instead continued in a different manner. These results suggest that Chinese air quality data, while still useful, should not be taken entirely at face value.
- Subjects :
- Atmospheric Science
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Air pollution
Social Sciences
010501 environmental sciences
medicine.disease_cause
01 natural sciences
Geographical Locations
Government Agencies
Statistics
media_common
Statistical Data
Measurement
Multidisciplinary
Geography
Face value
Communication
Contrast (statistics)
Research Assessment
Pollution
Data Accuracy
Chemistry
Physical Sciences
Medicine
Engineering and Technology
Environmental Monitoring
Research Article
China
Asia
Science
media_common.quotation_subject
Human Geography
Research and Analysis Methods
Air Quality
Urban Geography
Ozone
Air Pollution
medicine
Environmental Chemistry
Cities
Air quality index
Research Errors
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Saturation (genetic)
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Local government
Atmospheric Chemistry
People and Places
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d0a941ff91e273cab2c936343bd5fee5