Interplay Between Meteorology and Seasonality in Urban Air Pollution Across Selected Cities in East, South, and Southeast Asia: A Comparative Review

Abstract

Air pollution is a growing environmental issue in rapidly urbanizing Asian cities, where meteorological conditions and seasonal variability strongly influence pollutant concentrations. This review synthesizes published evidence on the interactions between meteorology, seasonality, and urban air pollution across selected cities in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The literature was collected from major scientific databases and organized according to meteorological drivers, seasonal characteristics, and dominant emission sources. Particular emphasis was placed on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), SO2, NO2, NOx, CO, and O3. The reviewed studies indicate that wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature, atmospheric stability, and monsoon circulation strongly influence pollutant transport, dispersion, and removal. Pollutant concentrations generally reach their highest in winter due to stagnant conditions and higher human emissions. In contrast, the summer and monsoon seasons tend to have lower PM levels due to better atmospheric mixing and wet deposition. Regional differences in dominant sources were also observed, including coal combustion and heating in East Asia, traffic and biomass burning in South Asia, and biomass burning and transboundary transport in Southeast Asia. These findings highlight the importance of seasonally adaptive and region-specific air quality management strategies in Asian cities.