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Cové is situated within the Zou Department of Benin, acting as a vital transit node between the coastal hubs and the interior plateaus. The city is characterized by a predominantly flat, low-lying terrain typical of the Dahomey Gap, where the landscape transitions from coastal lagoons to inland savannas. This low elevation facilitates the stagnation of air masses during periods of low wind speed, which can trap localized pollutants close to the ground. Surrounded by an expansive agricultural matrix, Cové is embedded in a zone dominated by palm oil plantations and subsistence farming, creating a distinct urban-rural gradient where the city center is a dense cluster of commerce and residential dwellings. The proximity to small river tributaries and seasonal marshes adds humidity to the local microclimate, influencing the dispersion of particulate matter. While Cové lacks heavy industrial belts, its role as a regional trading center means that vehicular emissions from trucks and motorcycles are concentrated along its main transit corridors. The surrounding vegetation provides a modest buffer, yet the prevalence of open-air markets and traditional cooking methods introduces significant organic aerosols into the atmosphere. Geographically, the city is exposed to the sweeping influence of the Atlantic trade winds and the seasonal incursions of continental air masses, making its atmospheric composition highly dependent on the broader regional meteorological patterns of West Africa, blending rural biomass emissions with growing urban traffic pollutants. The ferric soils and sparse gallery forests further define this humid tropical environment, shaping the local aerodynamic roughness.

Cové experiences a tropical climate defined by two primary seasons: the wet season and the dry season. During the wet season, typically spanning from April to October, air quality reaches its annual peak of purity. Frequent, heavy tropical monsoon rains act as a natural scrubbing mechanism, washing particulate matter and aerosols from the sky through wet deposition. This period is ideal for outdoor activities, though high humidity can exacerbate the feeling of respiratory heaviness for some. Conversely, the dry season, stretching from November to March, introduces the Harmattan, a northeasterly trade wind that carries vast quantities of mineral dust from the Sahara Desert. This phenomenon leads to a significant spike in coarse particulate matter, often creating a hazy veil over the Zou region. During the peak Harmattan months of December and January, temperature inversions can occur, trapping smoke from agricultural burning and charcoal production near the surface. For sensitive groups, including children and the elderly, this period poses the most severe health risk of respiratory irritation and asthma exacerbations. It is highly recommended to limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the dustiest weeks and use protective face coverings when visibility drops. The transition periods in March and October often see localized smoke peaks due to slash-and-burn agricultural practices used to prepare fields. Consequently, the air quality narrative in Cové is a cyclical struggle between the cleansing power of the heavy tropical monsoon rains and the desiccating, dust-laden winds of the Saharan interior.