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Arniquet, nestled within the Sud department of Haiti at coordinates 18.1463, -73.8750, is a coastal town exhibiting a typical Haitian urban form – a concentrated settlement along the coastline, radiating inland. The town’s geography is profoundly shaped by the mountainous terrain of the Tiburon Peninsula, with Arniquet situated on a relatively narrow coastal plain. This proximity to the Caribbean Sea influences local climate and air circulation patterns. The surrounding landscape is a mix of lush, though often deforested, hills and valleys, transitioning to agricultural land used for subsistence farming, primarily small-scale cultivation of crops like bananas, mangoes, and coffee. While not a major industrial hub, Arniquet serves as a regional market town, experiencing increased vehicular traffic and small-scale commercial activity. The urban-rural gradient is sharp; immediately outside the town limits, the landscape quickly becomes rural and agricultural. This geographic configuration, combined with limited infrastructure for waste management and potential for dust from unpaved roads, contributes to localised air quality challenges. The coastal location means sea breezes can offer some dispersion, but also trap pollutants during temperature inversions. The terrain funnels winds, potentially concentrating pollutants in certain areas.

Arniquet experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, heavily influencing air quality. The dry season, typically from December to April, sees reduced rainfall and increased dust resuspension from roads and agricultural activities, leading to higher particulate matter concentrations. This is exacerbated by the prevalence of burning for land clearing during this period. February and March are generally the months with the poorest air quality. The wet season, from May to November, brings relief through rainfall which washes away pollutants, but also increases humidity, potentially fostering mold growth indoors. August and September, coinciding with the peak of the hurricane season, can experience periods of stagnant air and increased humidity, though heavy rainfall events offer temporary cleansing. Temperature inversions, common during the cooler nights of the dry season, trap pollutants near ground level. Sensitive groups – children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions – should limit strenuous outdoor activity during the dry season, particularly in the late mornings and early evenings. During the wet season, focus shifts to managing indoor air quality due to increased humidity and mold. Monitoring weather patterns is crucial for anticipating pollution episodes.