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Puerto Suárez, nestled in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia, occupies a unique geographic position as a border city with Brazil. Located at approximately -18.9667 latitude and -57.7981 longitude, the city sits within the Chaco Boreal, a vast, relatively flat plain characterized by scrub forest, savannas, and seasonally flooded wetlands. The terrain is generally low-lying, with an elevation around 330 meters (1083 feet) above sea level. This low elevation, combined with its inland location, contributes to limited natural air dispersion. The Paraguay River flows nearby, but its influence on local air currents is moderate due to the expansive flatlands. Puerto Suárez functions as a crucial transport hub, experiencing significant truck traffic related to cross-border trade, particularly agricultural commodities like soybeans and beef. Surrounding the urban core is a gradient of agricultural land, transitioning to more remote Chaco wilderness. This agricultural activity, including land clearing via burning, is a key contributor to particulate matter pollution. The city’s rapid growth, driven by its economic role, has led to increased vehicle emissions and dust from unpaved roads, further impacting air quality. The urban-rural interface is particularly pronounced, with localized pollution hotspots near transport corridors and agricultural processing areas.

Puerto Suárez experiences a pronounced wet and dry season, dictating the patterns of air quality throughout the year. The dry season, roughly from May to October, is typically when air quality is poorest. Reduced rainfall means less atmospheric cleansing, and agricultural burning for land preparation is most prevalent during this period, releasing significant amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). Dust from unpaved roads is also easily lofted into the air during these drier months. November marks the transition, with increasing rainfall beginning to improve conditions. The wet season, from November to April, generally offers the best air quality, as rainfall washes pollutants from the atmosphere and suppresses dust. However, even during the wet season, vehicle emissions from the busy transport routes remain a consistent source of pollution. Temperature inversions, common during cooler nights in the dry season, can trap pollutants near the ground, exacerbating air quality issues. Sensitive individuals, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, should be particularly cautious during the dry season, limiting strenuous outdoor activity and considering the use of masks when dust levels are high. Months of December through February generally present the most favourable conditions for outdoor activities.