Using R Programming Tools to Visualize Air Quality Index in USA

Abstract: One of the prominent programming languages in data visualization and statistics is R. The author deployed R programming tools to analyze the air quality across the United States from 1980 to 2022, which provided valuable insights into the patterns of the national Air Quality Index (AQI). The findings indicate that some states have improved air quality through stringent environmental regulations. In contrast, others struggle with high AQI levels due to industrial activities, urbanization, and natural factors such as wildfires. The study identified that ozone and PM2.5 are the most persistent pollutants, significantly contributing to poor air quality. States such as California and Texas exhibited persistently high AQI values, while others, such as Vermont and Maine, showed relatively stable or improving air quality.

Keywords: R Programming Tools; Exploratory Data Analysis; Data Visualization; Air Quality Index; Particulate Matter