Air Pollution, Weather, Traffic and Social Dynamics in a Major Latin American City: Case of Santiago De Cali, Colombia (2015-2020)

Air pollution has become one of the most severe environmental challenges in Latin America, the world's second most urbanized region. An explanatory design based on mixed techniques was used in this research to investigate the links between air quality, weather, traffic, and urban planning in Santiago de Cali (SC), a major Latin-American city. This study looked at the temporal and spatial variations of PM2.5 and PM10 for SC. Annual, seasonal, daily, and COVID-19 lockdown fluctuations were also analyzed for statistically significant patterns and indications of relationships between variables. Meteorological variables such as precipitation and wind were discovered to lessen the impact of these pollutans, lowering their concentration by up to 68%. On the other hand, it was discovered that automobile traffic could account for up to 81% of overall pollution concentrations in city air. The concentration of pollutants in the South of the city has climbed by 48% in the last six years, according to the findings. The investigation found that the city's growth, conurbation, and accumulation of educational opportunities are all focused within this area. These social dynamics shape mobility patterns that worsen air quality.