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Watampone, the capital of Bone Regency in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, occupies a strategically important position within the island’s interior, nestled along the banks of the Walanae River. Its coordinates, -4.5386, 120.3297, place it within a relatively low-lying coastal plain, averaging around 15 meters above sea level. The surrounding landscape is a mosaic of rice paddies, coconut plantations, and small-scale agricultural plots, characteristic of the Bone region’s fertile alluvial soils. The Walanae River, a vital waterway, influences local humidity and contributes to the area’s generally warm and humid climate. Watampone’s urban character is distinctly provincial, exhibiting a blend of traditional stilt houses and more modern constructions, reflecting its role as a regional administrative and trading hub. The city’s location, while benefiting from riverine transport and agricultural productivity, also presents challenges for air quality. While not directly adjacent to a major industrial belt, Watampone serves as a distribution point for agricultural products from the surrounding Bone Regency, leading to localized emissions from transportation and processing activities. The urban–rural gradient is relatively gradual, with agricultural land quickly transitioning to residential areas. The proximity to the coast, approximately 20 kilometers away, means that Watampone can be influenced by sea breezes, which can both disperse and, under certain conditions, trap pollutants. Topography is generally flat, limiting natural ventilation and potentially exacerbating localized pollution events. The surrounding terrain, primarily flat agricultural land, offers little in the way of natural barriers to pollutant dispersal.

Watampone’s tropical climate dictates a wet and dry season pattern, significantly impacting air quality dynamics. The dry season, typically spanning from May to September, often sees a slight improvement in air quality due to increased wind speeds and solar radiation, which aids in pollutant dispersion. However, agricultural burning, a common practice for land clearing and residue removal, can lead to periods of elevated particulate matter during this time, particularly in August and September. The wet season, from October to April, brings increased rainfall and higher humidity. While rainfall naturally scavenges pollutants from the atmosphere, the increased humidity can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, especially during periods of intense sunshine following rainfall. Fog, though infrequent, can occur during the wet season, trapping pollutants near the ground and creating localized air quality concerns. Temperature inversions, where cooler air is trapped beneath warmer air, are less common but can occur during calmer periods, hindering vertical mixing and concentrating pollutants. Months like November and December, transitioning from dry to wet, often experience a combination of agricultural burning and increasing humidity, presenting a challenging period for air quality. Sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions, should limit prolonged outdoor activity during periods of agricultural burning and when fog or haze is present. Maintaining indoor air quality through proper ventilation and air filtration is also advisable during these times. The monsoon winds, while generally beneficial for dispersion, can occasionally carry pollutants from other regions, impacting Watampone’s air quality.