Spatio-Temporal Distribution of PM 2.5 and its Association with Agricultural Fires in Northern Argentina

Abstract

Agricultural burning in Tucumán, Argentina, has been a major contributor to air pollution,particularly during the dry season (April to September). This environmental issue is mainly due tothe limited availability of modern machinery for sustainable harvesting, leading to heavy relianceon traditional biomass burning for crop residue management. The combustion process generateslarge amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which severely affects air quality and publichealth. To address this challenge, an inter-institutional collaboration under the NetworkingInitiative Breathe2Change.org, supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, facilitatedthe creation of the first air quality monitoring network in Tucumán. This initiative aimed to raiseawareness and provide actionable data to local communities and scientists.