Sulfate-nitrate-ammonium aerosols over China: response to 2000–2015 emission changes of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia

Abstract. We use a chemical transport model to examine the change of sulfate-nitrate-ammonium (SNA) aerosols over China due to anthropogenic emission changes of their precursors (SO₂, NO_x and NH₃) from 2000 to 2015. From 2000 to 2006, annual mean SNA concentrations increased by about 60% over China as a result of the 60% and 80% increases in SO₂ and NO_x emissions. During this period, sulfate is the dominant component of SNA over South China (SC) and Sichuan Basin (SCB), while nitrate and sulfate contribute equally over North China (NC). Based on emission reduction targets in the 12th (2011–2015) Five-Year Plan (FYP), China's total SO₂ and NO_x emissions are projected to change by −16% and +16% from 2006 to 2015, respectively. The amount of NH₃ emissions in 2015 is uncertain, given the lack of sufficient information on the past and present levels of NH₃ emissions in China. With no change in NH₃ emissions, SNA mass concentrations in 2015 will decrease over SCB and SC compared to their 2006 levels, but increase over NC where the magnitude of nitrate increase exceeds that of sulfate reduction. This suggests that the SO₂ emission reduction target set by the 12th FYP, although effective in reducing SNA over SC and SCB, will not be successful over NC, for which NO_x emission control needs to be strengthened. If NH₃ emissions are allowed to keep their recent growth rate and increase by +16% from 2006 to 2015, the benefit of SO₂ reduction will be completely offset over all of China due to the significant increase of nitrate, demonstrating the critical role of NH₃ in regulating nitrate. The effective strategy to control SNA and hence PM_2.5 pollution over China should thus be based on improving understanding of current NH₃ emissions and putting more emphasis on controlling NH₃ emissions in the future.