Situated in a Mediterranean climate, Adana provides a representative setting for examining air pollution dynamics. This study analyzes spatiotemporal trends and extreme events across eight monitoring stations (2010–2024), applying linear regression and non-parametric tests (Mann–Kendall, Sen’s Slope) to evaluate long-term, short-term, and seasonal changes in eight pollutants (PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, SO₂, O₃, CO, NO₂, NO, NOₓ). Long-term results revealed weak or insignificant trends, with slight reductions in NO and NOₓ at rural sites and PM₁₀ at urban traffic locations. These improvements plateaued after 2021, suggesting stabilization in regional air quality. Seasonal analyses highlighted winter increases in PM₁₀ and SO₂ due to heating and stagnant conditions, summer O₃ peaks linked to photochemical activity, and spring dust intrusions affecting rural stations. Autumn transitions contributed to variability in PM₁₀ and NOₓ. Extreme event analysis (2021–2024) identified PM₁₀ as the most frequently exceeded pollutant, particularly at traffic sites. CO and NOₓ peaks coincided with rush hours, while O₃ extremes occurred during summer midday; rural stations experienced episodic PM₁₀ surges during dust events. Weekly cycles revealed a “weekday effect” for combustion-related pollutants. Seasonal extremes confirmed winter peaks for CO and NOₓ, summer peaks for O₃, and spring/autumn peaks for PM₁₀. Although no significant long-term deterioration was observed, 8–12% of urban days exceeded thresholds compared to 3–5% in rural areas. These findings underscore a disconnect between average trends and extreme events, emphasizing the role of meteorological variability, regional transport, and episodic emissions. The alignment between regression and seasonal results indicates a phase of mature stabilization, yet persistent exceedances call for event-based management strategies.

Situated in a Mediterranean climate, Adana provides a representative setting for examining air pollution dynamics. This study analyzes spatiotemporal trends and extreme events across eight monitoring stations (2010–2024), applying linear regression and non-parametric tests (Mann–Kendall, Sen’s Slope) to evaluate long-term, short-term, and seasonal changes in eight pollutants (PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, SO₂, O₃, CO, NO₂, NO, NOₓ). Long-term results revealed weak or insignificant trends, with slight reductions in NO and NOₓ at rural sites and PM₁₀ at urban traffic locations. These improvements plateaued after 2021, suggesting stabilization in regional air quality. Seasonal analyses highlighted winter increases in PM₁₀ and SO₂ due to heating and stagnant conditions, summer O₃ peaks linked to photochemical activity, and spring dust intrusions affecting rural stations. Autumn transitions contributed to variability in PM₁₀ and NOₓ. Extreme event analysis (2021–2024) identified PM₁₀ as the most frequently exceeded pollutant, particularly at traffic sites. CO and NOₓ peaks coincided with rush hours, while O₃ extremes occurred during summer midday; rural stations experienced episodic PM₁₀ surges during dust events. Weekly cycles revealed a “weekday effect” for combustion-related pollutants. Seasonal extremes confirmed winter peaks for CO and NOₓ, summer peaks for O₃, and spring/autumn peaks for PM₁₀. Although no significant long-term deterioration was observed, 8–12% of urban days exceeded thresholds compared to 3–5% in rural areas. These findings underscore a disconnect between average trends and extreme events, emphasizing the role of meteorological variability, regional transport, and episodic emissions. The alignment between regression and seasonal results indicates a phase of mature stabilization, yet persistent exceedances call for event-based management strategies.