Index-based evaluation of the relationship between bioclimatic comfort levels and air quality levels of particles and sulfur dioxide in Şanlıurfa Province (Turkey)

The aim of this study is (i) to reveal the bioclimatic comfort zones depending on the Discomfort Index (DI) in Şanlıurfa province with the help of geographic information system (GIS), and (ii) to determine the relationship between bioclimatic comfort levels and Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the Şanlıurfa city. For all analyzes made in the study, annual and monthly average values of meteorological (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed) and air pollutant parameters (for PM10 and SO2) between the years 2006–2021 were used. In this context, meteorological parameters, air pollutant parameters, temporal changes of DI and AQI (for PM10 and SO2) parameters were determined by Mann-Kendal (MK) trend analysis and the relationships between all these parameters were determined by Pearson correlation analysis. The most suitable (21≤DI<24) months in terms of bioclimatic comfort in Şanlıurfa province were June and September. In the Şanlıurfa city, annual and monthly average AQIPM10 values were generally in the “good” and “moderate” class, while AQISO2 values were in the “good” class in all years and all months. While the annual average temperature values showed a statistically signifcant increase, the annual average wind speed and PM10 and AQIPM10 values showed a statistically signifcant decrease. There was a negative “weak” correlation (r= −0.028) between DI and AQIPM10, and a positive “moderate” correlation between DI and AQISO2 (r=0.449; p<0.05). In addition, correlations between DI, PM10, and SO2 were signifcant at the p<0.05 level.