Spatiotemporal characteristics of residential odor complaints in Seoul megacity and their meteorological influences

This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of residential odor complaints in Seoul, South Korea, from 2014 to 2021, and explores their associations with key meteorological factors. During the study period, odor complaints increased more than threefold, with peak occurrences observed in June, on Mondays, and around 9:00 a.m. The spatial analysis highlighted prominent hotspots, with Eunpyeong-gu and certain other districts showing pronounced seasonal or irregular peak activity. Temporal and spatial trends suggest that odor complaints are influenced by both human activity cycles and atmospheric conditions. Correlation and principal component analyses identified strong positive associations between odor complaints and thermal or radiative parameters such as temperature, solar radiation, and sunshine duration, while atmospheric pressure showed a significant negative correlation. These associations were more pronounced on weekends than on weekdays, reflecting the combined effects of meteorological conditions and behavioral patterns on odor perception and reporting. The use of both bivariate and multivariate approaches allowed for a robust assessment of the relationship between odor trends and meteorological variability. Notably, wind speed, direction, and precipitation were not significantly correlated, suggesting that stable, warm, and low-pressure conditions are more critical associated factors of odor episodes in dense urban environments. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating meteorological data into odor complaint forecasting and response strategies. By identifying seasonal and district-specific risk patterns, the results provide a scientific basis for developing targeted, weather-informed odor mitigation policies that can improve quality of life in large metropolitan areas like Seoul.