Articles | Volume 16, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-777-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-777-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
25 Jan 2016
Research article |
| 25 Jan 2016
Impact of vehicular emissions on the formation of fine particles in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area: a numerical study with the WRF-Chem model
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
M. F. Andrade
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guilford GU2 7XH, UK
Environmental Flow (EnFlo) Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
R. Y. Ynoue
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
A. G. Muñoz
International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964-1000, USA
Centro de Modelado Científico (CMC), Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Related authors
Janaína P. Nascimento, Megan M. Bela, Bruno B. Meller, Alessandro L. Banducci, Luciana V. Rizzo, Angel Liduvino Vara-Vela, Henrique M. J. Barbosa, Helber Gomes, Sameh A. A. Rafee, Marco A. Franco, Samara Carbone, Glauber G. Cirino, Rodrigo A. F. Souza, Stuart A. McKeen, and Paulo Artaxo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 6755–6779, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6755-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6755-2021, 2021
Pep Cos, Matias Olmo, Diego Campos, Raül Marcos-Matamoros, Lluís Palma, Ángel G. Muñoz, and Francisco J. Doblas-Reyes
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 609–626, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-609-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-609-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work presents the identification of Saharan warm-air intrusions in the western Mediterranean, which are the displacement of air masses formed over the Sahara toward the west of the Mediterranean region. We focus on the recent past and obtain a catalogue of intrusion days. The results show the existence of different types of intrusions, important impacts on extremely high temperatures in the Mediterranean and Europe, and the dynamic mechanisms that can cause the onset of these events.
Guilherme Martins Pereira, Leonardo Yoshiaki Kamigauti, Rubens Fabio Pereira, Djacinto Monteiro dos Santos, Thayná da Silva Santos, José Vinicius Martins, Célia Alves, Cátia Gonçalves, Ismael Casotti Rienda, Nora Kováts, Thiago Nogueira, Luciana Rizzo, Paulo Artaxo, Regina Maura de Miranda, Marcia Akemi Yamasoe, Edmilson Dias de Freitas, Pérola de Castro Vasconcellos, and Maria de Fatima Andrade
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4587–4616, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4587-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4587-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The chemical composition of fine particulate matter was studied in the megacity of São Paulo (Brazil) during a polluted period. Vehicular-related sources remain relevant; however, a high contribution of biomass burning was observed and correlated with sample ecotoxicity. Emerging biomass burning sources, such as forest fires and sugarcane-bagasse-based power plants, highlight the need for additional control measures alongside stricter rules concerning vehicular emissions.
Tailine Corrêa dos Santos, Elaine Cristina Araujo, Thaís Andrade da Silva, Enrico Valente Freire, Eduardo Landulfo, and Maria de Fátima Andrade
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-968, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-968, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
It is widely used in national emission inventories estimated by IPCC emission factors. These estimates are sources of data uncertainty mainly because they do not include local specificities. Addressing this gap through targeted research and data collection is essential to develop effective mitigation policies and strategies. In the case of residential energy use, GHG emissions and indoor pollutants are expected to increase, especially as natural gas use continues to expand.
Hazel Vernier, Demilson Quintão, Bruno Biazon, Eduardo Landulfo, Giovanni Souza, V. Amanda Santos, J. S. Fabio Lopes, C. P. Alex Mendes, A. S. José da Matta, K. Pinheiro Damaris, Benoit Grosslin, P. M. P. Maria Jorge, Maria de Fátima Andrade, Neeraj Rastogi, Akhil Raj, Hongyu Liu, Mahesh Kovilakam, Suvarna Fadnavis, Frank G. Wienhold, Mathieu Colombier, D. Chris Boone, Gwenael Berthet, Nicolas Dumelie, Lilian Joly, and Jean-Paul Vernier
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-924, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-924, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
The eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai injected large amounts of water vapor and sea salt into the stratosphere, altering traditional views of volcanic aerosols. Using balloon-borne samplers, we collected aerosol samples and found high levels of sea salt and calcium, suggesting sulfate depletion due to gypsum formation. These findings highlight the need to consider sea salt in climate models to better predict volcanic impacts on the atmosphere and climate.
Jorge E. Pachón, Mariel A. Opazo, Pablo Lichtig, Nicolas Huneeus, Idir Bouarar, Guy Brasseur, Cathy W. Y. Li, Johannes Flemming, Laurent Menut, Camilo Menares, Laura Gallardo, Michael Gauss, Mikhail Sofiev, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Julia Palamarchuk, Andreas Uppstu, Laura Dawidowski, Nestor Y. Rojas, María de Fátima Andrade, Mario E. Gavidia-Calderón, Alejandro H. Delgado Peralta, and Daniel Schuch
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 7467–7512, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7467-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7467-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Latin America (LAC) has some of the most populated urban areas in the world, with high levels of air pollution. Air quality management in LAC has been traditionally focused on surveillance and building emission inventories. This study performed the first intercomparison and model evaluation in LAC, with interesting and insightful findings for the region. A multiscale modeling ensemble chain was assembled as a first step towards an air quality forecasting system.
Rafaela Cruz Alves Alberti, Thomas Lauvaux, Angel Liduvino Vara-Vela, Ricard Segura Barrero, Christoffer Karoff, Maria de Fátima Andrade, Márcia Talita Amorim Marques, Noelia Rojas Benavente, Osvaldo Machado Rodrigues Cabral, Humberto Ribeiro da Rocha, and Rita Yuri Ynoue
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3060, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3060, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study addresses uncertainties in atmospheric models by analyzing CO2 dynamics in a complex urban environment characterized by a dense population and tropical vegetation. High-accuracy sensors were deployed, and the WRF-GHG model was utilized to simulate CO2 transport, capturing variations and assessing contributions from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources.
Mario Eduardo Gavidia-Calderón, Sergio Ibarra-Espinosa, Youngseob Kim, Yang Zhang, and Maria de Fatima Andrade
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 3251–3268, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3251-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3251-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The MUNICH model was used to calculate pollutant concentrations inside the streets of São Paulo. The VEIN emission model provided the vehicular emissions and the coordinates of the streets. We used information from an air quality station to account for pollutant concentrations over the street rooftops. Results showed that when emissions are calibrated, MUNICH satisfied the performance criteria. MUNICH can be used to evaluate the impact of traffic-related air pollution on public health.
Janaína P. Nascimento, Megan M. Bela, Bruno B. Meller, Alessandro L. Banducci, Luciana V. Rizzo, Angel Liduvino Vara-Vela, Henrique M. J. Barbosa, Helber Gomes, Sameh A. A. Rafee, Marco A. Franco, Samara Carbone, Glauber G. Cirino, Rodrigo A. F. Souza, Stuart A. McKeen, and Paulo Artaxo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 6755–6779, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6755-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-6755-2021, 2021
Goran Gašparac, Amela Jeričević, Prashant Kumar, and Branko Grisogono
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 6395–6415, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-6395-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-6395-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Two different available air quality modelling systems were used to investigate physical and chemical processes that contributed to increased daily background PM10 in all of Europe (focusing on eastern and central Europe). Differentiation of modelling performance in respect to the terrain height was found. A strong influence of meteorological conditions on increased background PM10 and statically stable atmospheric conditions were recognized as a key factor in the build-up of background PM10.
Mona Kurppa, Antti Hellsten, Pontus Roldin, Harri Kokkola, Juha Tonttila, Mikko Auvinen, Christoph Kent, Prashant Kumar, Björn Maronga, and Leena Järvi
Geosci. Model Dev., 12, 1403–1422, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1403-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-1403-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes the implementation of a sectional aerosol module, SALSA, into the PALM model system 6.0. The first evaluation study shows excellent agreements with measurements. Furthermore, we show that ignoring the dry deposition of aerosol particles can overestimate aerosol number concentrations by 20 %, whereas condensation and dissolutional growth increase the total aerosol mass by over 10 % in this specific urban environment.
Guilherme Martins Pereira, Kimmo Teinilä, Danilo Custódio, Aldenor Gomes Santos, Huang Xian, Risto Hillamo, Célia A. Alves, Jailson Bittencourt de Andrade, Gisele Olímpio da Rocha, Prashant Kumar, Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, Maria de Fátima Andrade, and Pérola de Castro Vasconcellos
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 11943–11969, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11943-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11943-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
São Paulo, Brazil, has relatively relaxed regulations for ambient air pollution standards and often presents high air pollution levels due to emissions of airborne particles from local sources and long-range transport of biomass burning smoke. High risks associated with particulate matter exposure were observed in most samples. The results highlighted the contribution of vehicular emissions and the significant input from biomass combustion in the dry season.
Carlos Eduardo Souto-Oliveira, Maria de Fátima Andrade, Prashant Kumar, Fábio Juliano da Silva Lopes, Marly Babinski, and Eduardo Landulfo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 14635–14656, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14635-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14635-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The Metropolitan Area of São Paulo is the biggest megacity of South America, with over 20 million inhabitants. In recent years, the region has been facing a modification in rain patterns. In this study, we evaluated the effects of local and remote sources of air pollution on cloud-condensation nuclei activation properties. Our results showed that the local vehicular traffic emission products presented more negative effects on cloud-condensation nuclei activation than the remote sources.
Beatriz Sayuri Oyama, Maria de Fátima Andrade, Pierre Herckes, Ulrike Dusek, Thomas Röckmann, and Rupert Holzinger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 14397–14408, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14397-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14397-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Vehicular emissions have a strong impact on air pollution in big cities; hence, the study was performed in São Paulo city, where light- (LDVs) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) run on different fuels. We find that organic aerosol emission from LDVs and HDVs is a complex process involving oxidation of fuel constituents, NOx chemistry, and condensation of unburned fuel hydrocarbons on new or existing particles. The obtained emission patterns can be used to study processing of young aerosol in Brazil.
J. F. Peng, M. Hu, Z. B. Wang, X. F. Huang, P. Kumar, Z. J. Wu, S. Guo, D. L. Yue, D. J. Shang, Z. Zheng, and L. Y. He
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 10249–10265, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10249-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10249-2014, 2014
Related subject area
Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Atmospheric Modelling and Data Analysis | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
Modeling simulation of aerosol light absorption over the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region: the impact of mixing state and aging processes
An investigation of the impact of Canadian wildfires on US air quality using model, satellite, and ground measurements
How to trace the origins of short-lived atmospheric species: an Arctic example
Dust-producing weather patterns of the North American Great Plains
High-resolution air quality maps for Bucharest using a mixed-effects modeling framework
Construction and application of a pollen emissions model based on phenology and random forests
The impact of uncertainty in black carbon's refractive index on simulated optical depth and radiative forcing
Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
Accounting for the black carbon aging process in a two-way coupled meteorology–air quality model
The effectiveness of solar radiation management using fine sea spray across multiple climatic regions
A global dust emission dataset for estimating dust radiative forcings in climate models
Tropospheric aerosols over the western North Atlantic Ocean during the winter and summer deployments of ACTIVATE 2020: life cycle, transport, and distribution
Spatial and temporal evolution of future atmospheric reactive nitrogen deposition in China under different climate change mitigation strategies
Steady-state mixing state of black carbon aerosols from a particle-resolved model
Direct radiative forcing of light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosol and the influencing factors over China
Distinctive dust weather intensities in North China resulted from two types of atmospheric circulation anomalies
Biomass burning emission analysis based on MODIS aerosol optical depth and AeroCom multi-model simulations: implications for model constraints and emission inventories
Quasi-weekly oscillation of regional PM2.5 transport over China driven by the synoptic-scale disturbance of the East Asian winter monsoon circulation
Solar radiation estimation in West Africa: impact of dust conditions during the 2021 dry season
Machine Learning Assisted Inference of the Particle Charge Fraction and the Ion-induced Nucleation Rates during New Particle Formation Events
Modeling urban pollutant transport at multi-resolutions: Impacts of turbulent mixing
Gaps in our understanding of ice-nucleating particle sources exposed by global simulation of the UK Earth System Model
The role of interfacial tension in the size-dependent phase separation of atmospheric aerosol particles
Impact of Topographic Wind Conditions on Dust Particle Size Distribution: Insights from a Regional Dust Reanalysis Dataset
Warming effects of reduced sulfur emissions from shipping
The key role of atmospheric absorption in the Asian summer monsoon response to dust emissions in CMIP6 models
Multi-model effective radiative forcing of the 2020 sulfur cap for shipping
Exploring the Aerosol Activation Properties in a Coastal Area Using Cloud and Particle-resolving Models
Representation of iron aerosol size distributions of anthropogenic emissions is critical in evaluating atmospheric soluble iron input to the ocean
Revealing dominant patterns of aerosol regimes in the lower troposphere and their evolution from preindustrial times to the future in global climate model simulations
A Novel Method to Quantify the Uncertainty Contribution of Aerosol-Radiative Interaction Factors
Improving estimation of a record-breaking east Asian dust storm emission with lagged aerosol Ångström exponent observations
Impact of biomass burning aerosols (BBA) on the tropical African climate in an ocean–atmosphere–aerosol coupled climate model
Retrieval of refractive index and water content for the coating materials of aged black carbon aerosol based on optical properties: a theoretical analysis
Strong inter-model differences and biases in CMIP6 simulations of PM2.5, aerosol optical depth, and precipitation over Africa
Impact of post monsoon crop residue burning on PM2.5 over North India: Optimizing emissions using a high-density in situ surface observation network
Predicting hygroscopic growth of organosulfur aerosol particles using COSMOtherm
Dust aerosol from the Aralkum Desert influences the radiation budget and atmospheric dynamics of Central Asia
Global modeling of aerosol nucleation with a semi-explicit chemical mechanism for highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs)
Synergistic effects of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on dust activities in North China during the following spring
Aerosol composition, air quality, and boundary layer dynamics in the urban background of Stuttgart in winter
Response of the link between ENSO and the East Asian winter monsoon to Asian anthropogenic aerosols
Measurement report: Source attribution and estimation of black carbon levels in an urban hotspot of the central Po Valley – an integrated approach combining high-resolution dispersion modelling and micro-aethalometers
Modeling CMAQ dry deposition treatment over Western Pacific: A distinct characteristic of mineral dust and anthropogenic aerosol
Microphysical modelling of aerosol scavenging by different types of clouds: description and validation of the approach
Insights into the sources of ultrafine particle numbers at six European urban sites obtained by investigating COVID-19 lockdowns
In-plume and out-of-plume analysis of aerosol–cloud interactions derived from the 2014–2015 Holuhraun volcanic eruption
Impacts of atmospheric circulation patterns and cloud inhibition on aerosol radiative effect and boundary layer structure during winter air pollution in Sichuan Basin, China
Investigating the sign of stratocumulus adjustments to aerosols in the ICON global storm-resolving model
A model study investigating the sensitivity of aerosol forcing to the volatilities of semi-volatile organic compounds
Huiyun Du, Jie Li, Xueshun Chen, Gabriele Curci, Fangqun Yu, Yele Sun, Xu Dao, Song Guo, Zhe Wang, Wenyi Yang, Lianfang Wei, and Zifa Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5665–5681, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5665-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5665-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Inadequate consideration of mixing states and coatings on black carbon (BC) hinders aerosol radiation forcing quantification. Core–shell mixing aligns well with observations, but partial internal mixing is a more realistic representation. We used a microphysics module to determine the fraction of embedded BC and coating aerosols, constraining the mixing state. This reduced absorption enhancement by 30 %–43 % in northern China, offering insights into BC's radiative effects.
Zhixin Xue, Nair Udaysankar, and Sundar A. Christopher
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5497–5517, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5497-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5497-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Canadian wildfires in August 2018 significantly increased surface air pollution across the United States (US) – by up to 69 % in some areas. Using model, satellite, and ground measurements, the study highlights how weather patterns and long-range smoke transport drive pollution. The northwestern US was most affected by Canadian wildfire smoke, while the northeastern US experienced the least impact. These findings indicate the growing concern that wildfire smoke poses to air quality across the US.
Anderson Da Silva, Louis Marelle, Jean-Christophe Raut, Yvette Gramlich, Karolina Siegel, Sophie L. Haslett, Claudia Mohr, and Jennie L. Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5331–5354, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5331-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5331-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Particle sources in polar climates are unclear, affecting climate representation in models. This study introduces an evaluated method for tracking particles with backward modeling. Tests on simulated particles allowed us to show that traditional detection methods often misidentify sources. An improved method that accurately traces the origins of aerosol particles in the Arctic is presented. The study recommends using this enhanced method for better source identification of atmospheric species.
Stuart Evans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4833–4845, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4833-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4833-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study of the North American Great Plains identifies the various weather patterns responsible for blowing dust in all parts of the region using a weather pattern classification. In the southwestern plains passing cold fronts are the primary cause of dust; in the understudied northern plains, summertime patterns and southerly pre-frontal winds are most important in the west and east, respectively. These results are valuable to understanding and forecasting dust in this complex source region.
Camelia Talianu, Jeni Vasilescu, Doina Nicolae, Alexandru Ilie, Andrei Dandocsi, Anca Nemuc, and Livio Belegante
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4639–4654, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4639-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4639-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
For Bucharest, Romania's capital, mobile measurements during two intensive campaigns and mixed-effect LUR (land-use regression) models to derive seasonal maps of near-surface PM10, NO2 and UFPs (ultrafine particles) have successfully been used. The model's performance was evaluated, demonstrating its potential for high-resolution mapping in other cities with well-characterized urban structures and diverse in situ monitoring stations.
Jiangtao Li, Xingqin An, Zhaobin Sun, Caihua Ye, Qing Hou, Yuxin Zhao, and Zhe Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3583–3602, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3583-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3583-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change and pollution have intensified pollen allergies. We developed a pollen emissions model using phenology and random forests. Key factors affecting annual pollen emissions include temperature, relative humidity and sunshine hours. Pollen dispersal starts around 10 August, peaks around 30 August and ends by 25 September, lasting about 45 d. Over time, annual pollen emissions exhibit significant fluctuations and a downward trend.
Ruth A. R. Digby, Knut von Salzen, Adam H. Monahan, Nathan P. Gillett, and Jiangnan Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3109–3130, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3109-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3109-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The refractive index of black carbon (BCRI), which determines how much energy black carbon absorbs and scatters, is difficult to measure, and different climate models use different values. We show that varying the BCRI across commonly used values can increase absorbing aerosol optical depth by 42 % and the warming effect from interactions between black carbon and radiation by 47 %, an appreciable fraction of the overall spread between models reported in recent literature assessments.
Hector Navarro-Barboza, Jordi Rovira, Vincenzo Obiso, Andrea Pozzer, Marta Via, Andres Alastuey, Xavier Querol, Noemi Perez, Marjan Savadkoohi, Gang Chen, Jesus Yus-Díez, Matic Ivancic, Martin Rigler, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Stergios Vratolis, Olga Zografou, Maria Gini, Benjamin Chazeau, Nicolas Marchand, Andre S. H. Prevot, Kaspar Dallenbach, Mikael Ehn, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Anna Tobler, Jaroslaw Necki, Minna Aurela, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko Niemi, Olivier Favez, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Christoph Hueglin, Nicolas Pascal, Aurélien Chauvigné, Sébastien Conil, Marco Pandolfi, and Oriol Jorba
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2667–2694, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2667-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2667-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Brown carbon (BrC) absorbs ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, influencing climate. This study explores BrC's imaginary refractive index (k) using data from 12 European sites. Residential emissions are a major organic aerosol (OA) source in winter, while secondary organic aerosol (SOA) dominates in summer. Source-specific k values were derived, improving model accuracy. The findings highlight BrC's climate impact and emphasize source-specific constraints in atmospheric models.
Yuzhi Jin, Jiandong Wang, Chao Liu, David C. Wong, Golam Sarwar, Kathleen M. Fahey, Shang Wu, Jiaping Wang, Jing Cai, Zeyuan Tian, Zhouyang Zhang, Jia Xing, Aijun Ding, and Shuxiao Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2613–2630, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2613-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2613-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) affects climate and the environment, and its aging process alters its properties. Current models, like WRF-CMAQ, lack full accounting for it. We developed the WRF-CMAQ-BCG model to better represent BC aging by introducing bare and coated BC species and their conversion. The WRF-CMAQ-BCG model introduces the capability to simulate BC mixing states and bare and coated BC wet deposition, and it improves the accuracy of BC mass concentration and aerosol optics.
Zhe Song, Shaocai Yu, Pengfei Li, Ningning Yao, Lang Chen, Yuhai Sun, Boqiong Jiang, and Daniel Rosenfeld
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2473–2494, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2473-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2473-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our results with injected sea salt aerosols for five open oceans show that sea salt aerosols with low injection amounts dominate shortwave radiation, mainly through indirect effects. As indirect aerosol effects saturate with increasing injection rates, direct effects exceed indirect effects. This implies that marine cloud brightening is best implemented in areas with extensive cloud cover, while aerosol direct scattering effects remain dominant when clouds are scarce.
Danny M. Leung, Jasper F. Kok, Longlei Li, David M. Lawrence, Natalie M. Mahowald, Simone Tilmes, and Erik Kluzek
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2311–2331, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2311-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2311-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study derives a gridded dust emission dataset for 1841–2000 by employing a combination of observed dust from core records and reanalyzed global dust cycle constraints. We evaluate the ability of global models to replicate the observed historical dust variability by using the emission dataset to force a historical simulation in an Earth system model. We show that prescribing our emissions forces the model to better match observations than other mechanistic models.
Hongyu Liu, Bo Zhang, Richard H. Moore, Luke D. Ziemba, Richard A. Ferrare, Hyundeok Choi, Armin Sorooshian, David Painemal, Hailong Wang, Michael A. Shook, Amy Jo Scarino, Johnathan W. Hair, Ewan C. Crosbie, Marta A. Fenn, Taylor J. Shingler, Chris A. Hostetler, Gao Chen, Mary M. Kleb, Gan Luo, Fangqun Yu, Mark A. Vaughan, Yongxiang Hu, Glenn S. Diskin, John B. Nowak, Joshua P. DiGangi, Yonghoon Choi, Christoph A. Keller, and Matthew S. Johnson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2087–2121, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2087-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2087-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We use the GEOS-Chem model to simulate aerosol distributions and properties over the western North Atlantic Ocean (WNAO) during the winter and summer deployments in 2020 of the NASA ACTIVATE mission. Model results are evaluated against aircraft, ground-based, and satellite observations. The improved understanding of life cycle, composition, transport pathways, and distribution of aerosols has important implications for characterizing aerosol–cloud–meteorology interactions over WNAO.
Mingrui Ma, Jiachen Cao, Dan Tong, Bo Zheng, and Yu Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2147–2166, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2147-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2147-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We combined two global climate change pathways and three national emission control scenarios to analyze the future evolution of reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition till the 2060s in China with air quality modeling. We show China’s clean air and carbon neutrality policies would overcome the adverse effects of climate change and efficiently reduce Nr deposition. The outflow of Nr fluxes from mainland China to the west Pacific would also be clearly reduced from continuous stringent emission controls.
Zhouyang Zhang, Jiandong Wang, Jiaping Wang, Nicole Riemer, Chao Liu, Yuzhi Jin, Zeyuan Tian, Jing Cai, Yueyue Cheng, Ganzhen Chen, Bin Wang, Shuxiao Wang, and Aijun Ding
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1869–1881, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1869-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1869-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) exerts notable warming effects. We use a particle-resolved model to investigate the long-term behavior of the BC mixing state, revealing its compositions, coating thickness distribution, and optical properties all stabilize with a characteristic time of less than 1 d. This study can effectively simplify the description of the BC mixing state, which facilitates the precise assessment of the optical properties of BC aerosols in global and chemical transport models.
Shuangqin Yang, Yusi Liu, Li Chen, Nan Cao, Jing Wang, and Shuang Gao
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3705, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3705, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon, primary brown carbon, and secondary brown carbon are the leading light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols (LACs) that contribute significantly to climate change. We modified the GEOS-Chem model to simulate the climate change by LACs based on local emission inventory, and explored the impacts of LACs properties and atmospheric variables on the corresponding DRFs in seven regions of China. The study confirms the warming effect of LACs and deepens our knowledge of their climatic effects.
Qianyi Huo, Zhicong Yin, Xiaoqing Ma, and Huijun Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1711–1724, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1711-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1711-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Dust days during the spring seasons of 2015–2023 in North China were classified into Mongolian cyclone and cold high types depending on the presence of the Mongolian cyclone. The Mongolian cyclone type led to more frequent and severe dust weather, indicated by PM10 concentrations. To comprehensively forecast the two types of dust weather, a common predictor was established based on 500 hPa anomalous circulation systems, offering insights for dust weather forecasting and climate prediction.
Mariya Petrenko, Ralph Kahn, Mian Chin, Susanne E. Bauer, Tommi Bergman, Huisheng Bian, Gabriele Curci, Ben Johnson, Johannes W. Kaiser, Zak Kipling, Harri Kokkola, Xiaohong Liu, Keren Mezuman, Tero Mielonen, Gunnar Myhre, Xiaohua Pan, Anna Protonotariou, Samuel Remy, Ragnhild Bieltvedt Skeie, Philip Stier, Toshihiko Takemura, Kostas Tsigaridis, Hailong Wang, Duncan Watson-Parris, and Kai Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1545–1567, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1545-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1545-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We compared smoke plume simulations from 11 global models to each other and to satellite smoke amount observations aimed at constraining smoke source strength. In regions where plumes are thick and background aerosol is low, models and satellites compare well. However, the input emission inventory tends to underestimate in many places, and particle property and loss rate assumptions vary enormously among models, causing uncertainties that require systematic in situ measurements to resolve.
Yongqing Bai, Tianliang Zhao, Kai Meng, Yue Zhou, Jie Xiong, Xiaoyun Sun, Lijuan Shen, Yanyu Yue, Yan Zhu, Weiyang Hu, and Jingyan Yao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1273–1287, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1273-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1273-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We proposed a composite statistical method to identify the quasi-weekly oscillation (QWO) of regional PM2.5 transport over China in winter from 2015 to 2019. The QWO of regional PM2.5 transport is constrained by synoptic-scale disturbances of the East Asian winter monsoon circulation with the periodic activities of the Siberian high, providing a new insight into the understanding of regional pollutant transport with meteorological drivers in atmospheric environment changes.
Léo Clauzel, Sandrine Anquetin, Christophe Lavaysse, Gilles Bergametti, Christel Bouet, Guillaume Siour, Rémy Lapere, Béatrice Marticorena, and Jennie Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 997–1021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-997-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-997-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Solar energy production in West Africa is set to rise and needs accurate solar radiation estimates which are affected by desert dust. This work analyses a March 2021 dust event using a modelling strategy incorporating desert dust. Results show that considering desert dust cuts errors in solar radiation estimates by 75 % and reduces surface solar radiation by 18 %. This highlights the importance of incorporating dust aerosols into solar forecasting for better accuracy.
Pan Wang, Yue Zhao, Jiandong Wang, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Jingkun Jiang, and Chenxi Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3666, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a numerical model to explore how the charge state of newly formed atmospheric particles evolves during growth and how this relates to ion-induced nucleation rates. We identify the governing factors of particle charging and further apply neural networks to predict particle charge states and estimate ion induced nucleation rates. This study offers insights into particle charging dynamics and introduces new methods for assessing ion induced nucleation in atmospheric research.
Zining Yang, Qiuyan Du, Qike Yang, Chun Zhao, Gudongze Li, Zihan Xia, Mingyue Xu, Renmin Yuan, Yubin Li, Kaihui Xia, Jun Gu, and Jiawang Feng
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3890, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3890, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the impact of turbulent mixing on black carbon (BC) concentrations in urban areas using WRF-Chem at 25, 5, and 1 km resolutions. Significant variations in BC and turbulent mixing occur mainly at night. Higher resolutions reduce BC overestimation due to enhanced PBL mixing coefficients and vertical wind fluxes. Small-scale eddies at higher resolutions increase BC lifetime and column concentrations. Land use and terrain variations across multi-resolutions affect PBL mixing.
Ross J. Herbert, Alberto Sanchez-Marroquin, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Kirsty J. Pringle, Stephen R. Arnold, Benjamin J. Murray, and Kenneth S. Carslaw
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 291–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-291-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-291-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol particles that help form ice in clouds vary in number and type around the world and with time. However, in many weather and climate models cloud ice is not linked to aerosols that are known to nucleate ice. Here we report the first steps towards representing ice-nucleating particles within the UK Earth System Model. We conclude that in addition to ice nucleation by sea spray and mineral components of soil dust, we also need to represent ice nucleation by the organic components of soils.
Ryan Schmedding and Andreas Zuend
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 327–346, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-327-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-327-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Four different approaches for computing the interfacial tension between liquid phases in aerosol particles were tested for particles with diameters from 10 nm to more than 5 μm. Antonov's rule led to the strongest reductions in the onset relative humidity of liquid–liquid phase separation and reproduced measured interfacial tensions for highly immiscible systems. A modified form of the Butler equation was able to best reproduce measured interfacial tensions in more miscible systems.
Xinyue Huang, Wenyu Gao, and Hosein Foroutan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3076, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3076, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the relationship between wind-blown dust aerosols size distribution and wind conditions over topography at a regional scale, utilizing 10 years of dust reanalysis data. Linear regression models suggest that higher wind speeds and steeper land slopes, particularly under uphill winds, are associated with increased fractions of coarser dust particles. Moreover, these positive correlations weaken during summer and afternoon events, likely related to the haboob storms.
Masaru Yoshioka, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Ben B. B. Booth, Colin P. Morice, and Ken S. Carslaw
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13681–13692, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13681-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13681-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A 2020 regulation has reduced sulfur emissions from shipping by about 80 %, leading to a decrease in atmospheric aerosols that have a cooling effect primarily by affecting cloud properties and amounts. Our climate model simulations predict a global temperature increase of 0.04 K over the next 3 decades as a result, which could contribute to surpassing the Paris Agreement's 1.5 °C target. Reduced aerosols may have also contributed to the recent temperature spikes.
Alcide Zhao, Laura J. Wilcox, and Claire L. Ryder
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13385–13402, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13385-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13385-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Climate models include desert dust aerosols, which cause atmospheric heating and can change circulation patterns. We assess the effect of dust on the Indian and east Asian summer monsoons through multi-model experiments isolating the effect of dust in current climate models for the first time. Dust atmospheric heating results in a southward shift of western Pacific equatorial rainfall and an enhanced Indian summer monsoon. This shows the importance of accurate dust representation in models.
Ragnhild Bieltvedt Skeie, Rachael Byrom, Øivind Hodnebrog, Caroline Jouan, and Gunnar Myhre
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13361–13370, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13361-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13361-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In 2020, new regulations by the International Maritime Organization regarding sulfur emissions came into force, reducing emissions of SO2 from the shipping sector by approximately 80 %. In this study, we use multiple models to calculate how much the Earth energy balance changed due to the emission reduction or the so-called effective radiative forcing. The calculated effective radiative forcing is weak, comparable to the effect of the increase in CO2 over the last 2 to 3 years.
Ge Yu, Yueya Wang, Zhe Wang, and Xiaoming Shi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3581, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3581, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Studying the cloud-forming capacity of aerosols is crucial in climate research. The PartMC model can provide detailed particle information and help these studies. This model is integrated with the ideal meteorological Cloud Model 1 (CM1) to simulate the aerosols at cloud-forming locations. Significant changes are revealed in the hygroscopicity distribution of aerosols within ascending air parcels. Additionally, different ascent times also affect aerosol aging processes.
Mingxu Liu, Hitoshi Matsui, Douglas S. Hamilton, Sagar D. Rathod, Kara D. Lamb, and Natalie M. Mahowald
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13115–13127, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13115-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13115-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric aerosol deposition provides bioavailable iron to promote marine primary production, yet the estimates of its fluxes remain highly uncertain. This study, by performing global aerosol simulations, demonstrates that iron-containing particle size upon emission is a critical factor in regulating soluble iron input to open oceans. Further observational constraints on this are needed to reduce modeling uncertainties.
Jingmin Li, Mattia Righi, Johannes Hendricks, Christof G. Beer, Ulrike Burkhardt, and Anja Schmidt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12727–12747, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12727-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12727-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aiming to understand underlying patterns and trends in aerosols, we characterize the spatial patterns and long-term evolution of lower tropospheric aerosols by clustering multiple aerosol properties from preindustrial times to the year 2050 under three Shared
Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios. The results provide a clear and condensed picture of the spatial extent and distribution of aerosols for different time periods and emission scenarios.
Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios. The results provide a clear and condensed picture of the spatial extent and distribution of aerosols for different time periods and emission scenarios.
Bishuo He and Chunsheng Zhao
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3441, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3441, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Factor-uncertainty analysis helps us understand their impacts on complex systems. Traditional methods have many limitations. This study introduces a new method to measure how each factor contributes to uncertainty. It gains insights into the role of each variable and works for all multi-factor systems. As an application, we analyzed how aerosols affect solar radiation and identified the key factors. These analyses can improve our understanding of the role of aerosols in climate change.
Yueming Cheng, Tie Dai, Junji Cao, Daisuke Goto, Jianbing Jin, Teruyuki Nakajima, and Guangyu Shi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12643–12659, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12643-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12643-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In March 2021, east Asia experienced an outbreak of severe dust storms after an absence of 1.5 decades. Here, we innovatively used the time-lagged ground-based aerosol size information with the fixed-lag ensemble Kalman smoother to optimize dust emission and reproduce the dust storm. This work is valuable for not only the quantification of health damage, aviation risks, and profound impacts on the Earth's system but also revealing the climatic driving force and the process of desertification.
Marc Mallet, Aurore Voldoire, Fabien Solmon, Pierre Nabat, Thomas Drugé, and Romain Roehrig
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12509–12535, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12509-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12509-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the interactions between smoke aerosols and climate in tropical Africa using a coupled ocean–atmosphere–aerosol climate model. The work shows that smoke plumes have a significant impact by increasing the low-cloud fraction, decreasing the ocean and continental surface temperature and reducing the precipitation of coastal western Africa. It also highlights the role of the ocean temperature response and its feedbacks for the September–November season.
Jia Liu, Cancan Zhu, Donghui Zhou, and Jinbao Han
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12341–12354, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12341-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12341-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The hydrophilic coatings of aged black carbon (BC) particles absorb moisture during the hygroscopic growth process, but it is difficult to characterize how much water is absorbed under different relative humidities (RHs). In this study, we propose a method to obtain the water content in the coatings based on the equivalent complex refractive index retrieved from optical properties. This method is verified from a theoretical perspective, and it performs well for thickly coated BC at high RHs.
Catherine Anne Toolan, Joe Adabouk Amooli, Laura J. Wilcox, Bjørn H. Samset, Andrew G. Turner, and Daniel M. Westervelt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3057, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3057, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research explores how well air pollution and rainfall patterns in Africa are represented in current climate models, by comparing model data to observations from 1981 to 2023. While most models capture seasonal air quality changes well, they struggle to replicate the distribution of non-dust pollutants and certain rainfall patterns, especially over east Africa. Improving these models is crucial for better climate predictions and preparing for future risks.
Mizuo Kajino, Kentaro Ishijima, Joseph Ching, Kazuyo Yamaji, Rio Ishikawa, Tomoki Kajikawa, Tanbir Singh, Tomoki Nakayama, Yutaka Matsumi, Koyo Kojima, Prabir K. Patra, and Sachiko Hayashida
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1811, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1811, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Air pollution in Delhi during post monsoon period is severe and association with intensive crop residue burning (CRB) over Punjab state has attracted attention. However, the relationship has been unclear as the CRB emissions conventionally derived from satellites were underestimated due to clouds and haze over the region. We evaluated the impact of CRB on PM2.5 as about 50 %, based on a combination of numerical modeling and high-density observation network using low-cost sensors we installed.
Zijun Li, Angela Buchholz, and Noora Hyttinen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11717–11725, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11717-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11717-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Evaluating organosulfur (OS) hygroscopicity is important for assessing aerosol–cloud climate interactions in the post-fossil-fuel future, when SO2 emissions decrease and OS compounds become increasingly important. Here a state-of-the-art quantum-chemistry-based method was used to predict the hygroscopic growth factors (HGFs) of a group of atmospherically relevant OS compounds and their mixtures with (NH4)2SO4. A good agreement was observed between their model-estimated and experimental HGFs.
Jamie R. Banks, Bernd Heinold, and Kerstin Schepanski
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11451–11475, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11451-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11451-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Aralkum is a new desert in Central Asia formed by the desiccation of the Aral Sea. This has created a source of atmospheric dust, with implications for the balance of solar and thermal radiation. Simulating these effects using a dust transport model, we find that Aralkum dust adds radiative cooling effects to the surface and atmosphere on average but also adds heating events. Increases in surface pressure due to Aralkum dust strengthen the Siberian High and weaken the summer Asian heat low.
Xinyue Shao, Minghuai Wang, Xinyi Dong, Yaman Liu, Wenxiang Shen, Stephen R. Arnold, Leighton A. Regayre, Meinrat O. Andreae, Mira L. Pöhlker, Duseong S. Jo, Man Yue, and Ken S. Carslaw
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11365–11389, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11365-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11365-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) play an important role in atmospheric new particle formation (NPF). By semi-explicitly coupling the chemical mechanism of HOMs and a comprehensive nucleation scheme in a global climate model, the updated model shows better agreement with measurements of nucleation rate, growth rate, and NPF event frequency. Our results reveal that HOM-driven NPF leads to a considerable increase in particle and cloud condensation nuclei burden globally.
Falei Xu, Shuang Wang, Yan Li, and Juan Feng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10689–10705, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10689-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10689-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study examines how the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affect dust activities in North China during the following spring. The results show that the NAO and ENSO, particularly in their negative phases, greatly influence dust activities. When both are negative, their combined effect on dust activities is even greater. This research highlights the importance of these climate patterns in predicting spring dust activities in North China.
Hengheng Zhang, Wei Huang, Xiaoli Shen, Ramakrishna Ramisetty, Junwei Song, Olga Kiseleva, Christopher Claus Holst, Basit Khan, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10617–10637, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10617-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10617-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study unravels how stagnant winter conditions elevate aerosol levels in Stuttgart. Cloud cover at night plays a pivotal role, impacting morning air quality. Validating a key model, our findings aid accurate air quality predictions, crucial for effective pollution mitigation in urban areas.
Zixuan Jia, Massimo A. Bollasina, Wenjun Zhang, and Ying Xiang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2770, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2770, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using multi-model mean data from regional aerosol perturbation experiments, we find that increased Asian sulfate aerosols strengthen the link between ENSO and the East Asian winter monsoon. In coupled simulations, aerosol-induced broad cooling increases ENSO amplitude by affecting the tropical Pacific mean state, contributing to increase monsoon interannual variability. These results provide important implications to reduce uncertainties in future projections of regional extreme variability.
Giorgio Veratti, Alessandro Bigi, Michele Stortini, Sergio Teggi, and Grazia Ghermandi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10475–10512, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10475-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10475-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In a study of two consecutive winter seasons, we used measurements and modelling tools to identify the levels and sources of black carbon pollution in a medium-sized urban area of the Po Valley, Italy. Our findings show that biomass burning and traffic-related emissions (especially from Euro 4 diesel cars) significantly contribute to BC concentrations. This research offers crucial insights for policymakers and urban planners aiming to improve air quality in cities.
Steven Soon-Kai Kong, Joshua S. Fu, Neng-Huei Lin, Guey-Rong Sheu, and Wei-Syun Huang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2549, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2549, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The accuracy of the chemical transport model, a key focus of our research, is strongly dependent on the dry deposition parameterization. Our finding shows that the refined CMAQ dust model correlated well with the ground and high altitude in-situ measurements by implementing the suggested dry deposition schemes. Furthermore, we reveal the mixing state of two types of aerosols at the upper level, a finding supported by both the optimized model and measurement.
Pascal Lemaitre, Arnaud Quérel, Alexis Dépée, Alice Guerra Devigne, Marie Monier, Thibault Hiron, Chloé Soto Minguez, Daniel Hardy, and Andrea Flossmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9713–9732, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9713-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9713-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A new in-cloud scavenging scheme is proposed. It is based on a microphysical model of cloud formation and may be applied to long-distance atmospheric transport models (> 100 km) and climatic models. This model is applied to the two most extreme precipitating cloud types in terms of both relative humidity and vertical extension: cumulonimbus and stratus.
Alex Rowell, James Brean, David C. S. Beddows, Tuukka Petäjä, Máté Vörösmarty, Imre Salma, Jarkko V. Niemi, Hanna E. Manninen, Dominik van Pinxteren, Thomas Tuch, Kay Weinhold, Zongbo Shi, and Roy M. Harrison
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9515–9531, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9515-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9515-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Different sources of airborne particles in the atmospheres of four European cities were distinguished by recognising their particle size distributions using a statistical procedure, positive matrix factorisation. The various sources responded differently to the changes in emissions associated with COVID-19 lockdowns, and the reasons are investigated. While traffic emissions generally decreased, particles formed from reactions of atmospheric gases decreased in some cities but increased in others.
Amy H. Peace, Ying Chen, George Jordan, Daniel G. Partridge, Florent Malavelle, Eliza Duncan, and Jim M. Haywood
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9533–9553, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9533-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9533-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Natural aerosols from volcanic eruptions can help us understand how anthropogenic aerosols modify climate. We use observations and model simulations of the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption plume to examine aerosol–cloud interactions in September 2014. We find a shift to clouds with smaller, more numerous cloud droplets in the first 2 weeks of the eruption. In the third week, the background meteorology and previous conditions experienced by air masses modulate the aerosol perturbation to clouds.
Hua Lu, Min Xie, Bingliang Zhuang, Danyang Ma, Bojun Liu, Yangzhihao Zhan, Tijian Wang, Shu Li, Mengmeng Li, and Kuanguang Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8963–8982, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8963-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8963-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
To identify cloud, aerosol, and planetary boundary layer (PBL) interactions from an air quality perspective, we summarized two pollution patterns characterized by denser liquid cloud and by obvious cloud radiation interaction (CRI). Numerical simulation experiments showed CRI could cause a 50 % reduction in aerosol radiation interaction (ARI) under a low-trough system. The results emphasized the nonnegligible role of CRI and its inhibition of ARI under wet and cloudy pollution synoptic patterns.
Emilie Fons, Ann Kristin Naumann, David Neubauer, Theresa Lang, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8653–8675, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8653-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8653-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosols can modify the liquid water path (LWP) of stratocumulus and, thus, their radiative effect. We compare storm-resolving model and satellite data that disagree on the sign of LWP adjustments and diagnose this discrepancy with causal inference. We find that strong precipitation, the absence of wet scavenging, and cloud deepening under a weak inversion contribute to positive LWP adjustments to aerosols in the model, despite weak negative effects from cloud-top entrainment enhancement.
Muhammed Irfan, Thomas Kühn, Taina Yli-Juuti, Anton Laakso, Eemeli Holopainen, Douglas R. Worsnop, Annele Virtanen, and Harri Kokkola
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 8489–8506, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8489-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8489-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The study examines how the volatility of semi-volatile organic compounds affects secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and climate. Our simulations show that uncertainties in these volatilities influence aerosol mass and climate impacts. Accurate representation of these compounds in climate models is crucial for predicting global climate patterns.
Cited articles
Ackermann, I. J., Hass, H., Memmesheimer, M., Ebel, A., Binkowski, F. S.,
and Shankar, U.: Modal aerosol dynamics model for Europe: development and
first applications, Atmos. Environ., 32, 2981–2999, 1998.
Ahmadov, R., McKeen, S. A., Robinson, A. L., Bahreini, R., Middlebrook, A.
M., de Gouw, J. A., Meagher, J., Hsie, E. Y., Edgerton, E., Shaw, S., and
Trainer, M.: A volatility basis set model for summertime secondary organic
aerosols over the eastern United States in 2006, J. Geophys. Res., 117,
D06301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016831, 2012.
Albuquerque, T. T. A., Andrade, M. F., and Ynoue, R. Y.: Characterization of
atmospheric aerosols in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil: comparisons between
polluted and unpolluted periods, Water Air Soil Poll., 195, 201–213, 2011.
Anderson, L.: Ethanol fuel use in Brazil: air quality impacts, Energy
Environ. Sci., 2, 1015–1037, 2009.
Andrade, M. F., Fornaro, A., Miranda, R. M., Kerr, A., Oyama, B., Andre, P.
A., and Saldiva, P.: Vehicle emissions and PM2.5 mass concentrations in
six Brazilian cities, Air Qual. Atmos. Health, 5, 79–88, 2012.
Andrade, M. F., Ynoue, R. Y., Freitas, E. D., Todesco, E., Vara-Vela, A.,
Ibarra, S., Martins, L. D., Martins, J. A., and Carvalho, V. S. B.: Air
quality forecasting system for Southeastern Brazil, Front. Environ. Sci., 3,
1–14, 2015.
Binkowski, F. S. and Shankar, U.: The regional particulate matter model, 1.
Mode description and preliminary results, J. Geophys. Res., 100,
26191–26209, 1995.
Birch, M. E. and Cary, R. A.: Elemental carbon-based method for occupational
monitoring of particulate diesel exhaust: methodology and exposure issues,
Aerosol Sci. Tech., 25, 221–241, 1996.
Brito, J., Rizzo, L. V., Herckes, P., Vasconcellos, P. C., Caumo, S. E. S.,
Fornaro, A., Ynoue, R. Y., Artaxo, P., and Andrade, M. F.: Physical–chemical
characterisation of the particulate matter inside two road tunnels in the
São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 12199–12213,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12199-2013, 2013.
Brown, S. G., Lee, T., Roberts, P. T., and Collett Jr., J. L.: Variations in
the OM ∕ OC ratio of urban organic aerosol next to a major roadway, J.
Air Waste Manage., 63, 1422–1433, 2013.
Carvalho, V. S. B., Freitas, E. D., Martins, L. D., Martins, J. A., Mazzoli,
C. R., and Andrade, M. F.: Air quality status and trends over the
Metropolitan Area of Sao Paulo, Brazil as a result of emission control
policies, Environ. Sci. Policy, 47, 68–79, 2015.
Castanho, A. D. A. and Artaxo, P.: Sao Paulo aerosol source apportionment for
wintertime and summertime, Atmos. Environ., 35, 4889–4902, 2001.
CETESB – Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental: Relatorio Anual de
Qualidade do Ar no Estado de Sao Paulo 2009, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2010.
CETESB – Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental: Emissões
veiculares no Estado de São Paulo 2011, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2012.
CETESB – Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental: Relatorio Anual de
Qualidade do Ar no Estado de Sao Paulo 2012, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Chang, J. S., Binkowki, F. S., Seaman, N. L., McHenry, J. N., Samson, P. J.,
Stockwell, W. R., Walcek, C. J., Madronich, S., Middleton, P. B., Pleim, J.
E., and Lansford, H. H.: The regional acid deposition model and engineering
model, State-of-Science/Technology, Report 4, National Acid Precipitation
Assessment Program, Washington, DC, USA, 1989.
Costa, R. C. and Sodré, J. R.: Hydrous ethanol vs. gasoline-ethanol
blend: Engine performance and emissions, Fuel, 89, 287–293, 2010.
Draxler, R. R. and Hess, G. D.: An overview of the HYSPLIT 4 modelling system
of trajectories, dispersion, and deposition, Aust. Meteorol. Mag., 47,
295–308, 1998.
Emmons, L. K., Walters, S., Hess, P. G., Lamarque, J.-F., Pfister, G. G.,
Fillmore, D., Granier, C., Guenther, A., Kinnison, D., Laepple, T., Orlando,
J., Tie, X., Tyndall, G., Wiedinmyer, C., Baughcum, S. L., and Kloster, S.:
Description and evaluation of the Model for Ozone and Related chemical
Tracers, version 4 (MOZART-4), Geosci. Model Dev., 3, 43–67,
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-3-43-2010, 2010.
Fast, J. D., Gustafson, W. I., Easter, R. C., Zaveri, R. A., Barnard, J. C.,
Chapman, E. G., Grell, G. A., and Peckham, S. E.: Evolution of ozone,
particulates, and aerosol direct radiative forcing in the vecinity of Houston
using a fully coupled meteorology-chemistry-aerosol module, J. Geophys. Res.,
111, D21305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006721, 2006.
Forkel, R., Werhahn, J., Hansen, A. B., McKeen, S., Peckham, S., Grell, G.,
and Suppan, P.: Effect of aerosol-radiation feedback on regional air quality
– A case study with WRF/Chem, Atmos. Environ., 53, 202–211, 2012.
Ginoux, P., Chin, M., Tegen, I., Prospero, J. M., Holben, B., Dubovik, O.,
and Lin, S.-J.: Sources and distributions of dust aerosols simulated with the
GOCART model, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 20255–20273, 2001.
Gong, S. L.: A parameterization of sea-salt aerosol source function for sub-
and super-micron particles, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 17, 1097,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GB002079, 2003.
Gorin, C. A., Collett Jr., J. L., and Herckes, P.: Wood smoke contribution to
winter aerosol in Fresno, CA, J. Air Waste Manage., 56, 1584–1590, 2006.
GrEC – Grupo de Estudos Climáticos: Relatório climatológico
mensal, previsão climática para o Brasil: Set-Out-Nov/2012, Sao
Paulo, Brazil, available at:
www.grec.iag.usp.br/link_grec_old/relatorios_climatologicos/2012/agosto/
(last access: 18 March 2014), 2012a.
GrEC – Grupo de Estudos Climáticos: Relatório climatológico
mensal, monitoramento climático para o Brasil: Set/2012, Sao Paulo,
Brazil, available at:
www.grec.iag.usp.br/link_grec_old/relatorios_climatologicos/2012/setembro/
(last access: 18 March 2014), 2012b.
Grell, G. A., Peckham, S. E., Schmitz, R., McKeen, S. A., Wilczak, J., and
Eder, B.: Fully coupled “online” chemistry within the WRF model, Atmos.
Environ., 39, 6957–6975, 2005.
Guenther, A. B., Zimmerman, P. R., Harley, P. C., Monson, R. K., and Fall,
R.: Isoprene and monoterpene emission rate variability: model evaluations and
sensitivity analyses, J. Geophys. Res., 98D, 12609–12617, 1993.
Guenther, A. B., Zimmerman, P., and Wildermuth, M.: Natural volatile organic
compound emission rateestimates for US woodland landscapes, Atmos. Environ.,
28, 1197–1210, 1994.
Heal, M. R., Kumar, P., and Harrison, R. M.: Particles, air quality, policy
and health, Chem. Soc. Rev., 41, 6606–6630, 2012.
Jenkin, M. E. and Clemitshaw, K. C.: Ozone and other secondary photochemical
pollutants: chemical processes governing their formation in the planetary
boundary layer, Atmos. Environ., 34, 2499–2527, 2000.
Kroll, J. H. and Seinfeld, J. H.: Chemistry of secondary organic aerosol:
Formation and evolution of low-volatility organics in the atmosphere, Atmos.
Environ., 42, 3593–3624, 2008.
Kulmala, M., Laaksonen, A., and Pirjola, L.: Parameterization for sulphuric
acid/water nucleation rates, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 8301–8307, 1998.
Kumar, P., Robins, A., Vardoulakis, S., and Britter, R.: A review of the
characteristics of nanoparticles in the urban atmosphere and the prospects
for developing regulatory control, Atmos. Environ., 44, 5035–5052, 2010.
Kumar, P., Ketzel, M., Vardoulakis, S., Pirjola, L., and Britter, R.:
Dynamics and dispersion modelling of nanoparticles from road traffic in the
urban atmospheric environment – a review, J. Aerosol Sci., 42, 580–603,
2011.
Kumar, P., Morawska, L., Birmili, W., Paasonen, P., Hu, M., Kulmala, M.,
Harrison, R.M., Norford, L., and Britter, R.: Ultrafine particles in cities,
Environ. Int., 66, 1–10, 2014.
Li, G., Zhang, R., and Fan, J.: Impacts of black carbon aerosol on photolysis
and ozone, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D23206, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD005898, 2005.
Li, G., Bei, N., Tie, X., and Molina, L. T.: Aerosol effects on the
photochemistry in Mexico City during MCMA-2006/MILAGRO campaign, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 11, 5169–5182, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-5169-2011, 2011a.
Li, G., Zavala, M., Lei, W., Tsimpidi, A. P., Karydis, V. A., Pandis, S. N.,
Canagaratna, M. R., and Molina, L. T.: Simulations of organic aerosol
concentrations in Mexico City using the WRF-CHEM model during the
MCMA-2006/MILAGRO campaign, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 3789–3809,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-3789-2011, 2011b.
Marple, V. A., Rubow, K. L., Ananth, G. P., and Fissan, H. J.: Micro-Orifice
Uniform Deposit Impactor, J. Aerosol Sci., 17, 489–494, 1986.
Martins, L. D., Vasconcellos, P. C., Carvalho, L. F., and Andrade, M. F.:
Estimated impact of biogenic hydrocarbon emissions on photochemical oxidant
formation in Sao Paulo during two periods of the winters of 1999–2000,
Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia, 21, 190–200, 2006.
Matsui, H., Koike, M., Kondo, Y., Takami, A., Fast, J. D., Kanaya, Y., and
Takigawa, M.: Volatility basis-set approach simulation of organic aerosol
formation in East Asia: implications for anthropogenic–biogenic interaction
and controllable amounts, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 9513–9535,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9513-2014, 2014.
McMurry, P., Shepherd, M., and Vickery, J.: Particulate Matter Science for
Policy Makers: A NARSTO Assessment, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
UK, 2004.
Middleton, P., Stockwell, W. R., and Carter, W. P. L.: Aggregation and
analysis of volatile organic compound emissions for regional modelling,
Atmos. Environ., 24A, 1107–1133, 1990.
Miranda, R. M. and Andrade, M. F.: Physicochemical characteristics of
atmospheric aerosols during winter in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area in
Brazil, Atmos. Environ., 39, 6188–6193, 2005.
Monahan, E. C., Spiel, D. E., and Davidson, K. L.: A model of marine aerosol
generation via whitecaps and wave disruption, in: Oceanic Whitecaps, edited
by: Monahan, E. C. and MacNiocaill, G. D., Reidel Publishing Company,
Norwell, USA, 167–174, 1986.
Monks, P. S.: Gas-phase radical chemistry in the troposphere, Chem. Soc.
Rev., 34, 376–395, 2005.
Muñoz, A. G., López, P., Velásquez, R., Monterrey, L., León,
G., Ruiz, F., Recalde, C., Cadena, J., Mejía, R., Paredes, M., Bazo, J.,
Reyes, C., Carrasco, G., Castellón, Y., Villarroel, C., Quintana, J., and
Urdaneta, A.: An Environmental Watch System for the Andean Countries: El
Observatorio Andino, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 91, 1645–1652, 2010.
Muñoz, A. G., Ruiz-Carrascal, D., Ramírez, P., León, G.,
Quintana, J., Bonilla, A., Torres, W., Pastén, M., and Sánchez, O.:
Risk Management at the Latin American Observatory, in: Risk Management –
Current Issues and Challenges, InTech Publications, 533–556,
https://doi.org/10.5772/50788, 2012.
Nogueira, T., Dominutti, P. A., De Carvalho, L. R. F., Fornaro, A., and
Andrade, M. F.: Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde measurements in urban
atmosphere impacted by the use of ethanol biofuel: Metropolitan Area of Sao
Paulo, 2012–2013, Fuel, 134, 505–513, 2014.
Odum, J. R., Hoffmann, T., Bowman, F., Collins, D., Flagan, R. C., and
Seinfeld, J. H.: Gas/particle partitioning and secondary organic aerosol
yields, Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 2580–2585, 1996.
Pankow, J. F.: An absorption model of the gas aerosol partitioning involved
in the formation of secondary organic aerosol, Atmos. Environ., 28, 185–188,
1994a.
Pankow, J. F.: An absorption model of the gas aerosol partitioning involved
in the formation of secondary organic aerosol, Atmos. Environ., 28, 189–193,
1994b.
Pérez-Martínez, P. J., Miranda, R. M., Nogueira, T., Guardani, M.
L., Fornaro, A., Ynoue, R., and Andrade, M. F.: Emission factors of air
pollutants from vehicles measured inside road tunnels in Sao Paulo: case
study comparison, Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 11, 2155–2168, 2014.
Pérez-Martínez, P. J., Andrade, M. F., and Miranda, R. M.:
Traffic-related air quality trends in Sao Paulo, Brazil, J. Geophys. Res.
Atmos., 120, 6290–6304, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD022812, 2015.
Real, E. and Sartelet, K.: Modeling of photolysis rates over Europe: impact
on chemical gaseous species and aerosols, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 1711–1727,
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-1711-2011, 2011.
Salvo, A. and Geiger, F. M.: Reduction in local ozone levels in urban Sao
Paulo due to a shift from ethanol to gasoline use, Nat. Geosci., 7, 450–458,
https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2144, 2014.
Saxena, P., Hudischewskyj, A. B., Seigneur, C., and Seinfeld, J. H.: A
comparative study of equilibrium approaches to the chemical characterization
of secondary aerosols, Atmos. Environ., 20, 1471–1483, 1986.
Schell, B., Ackerman, I. J., Hass, H., Binkowski, F. S., and Ebel, A.:
Modelling the formation of secondary organic aerosol within a comprehensive
air quality model system, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 28275–28293, 2001.
Seinfeld, J. H. and Pandis, S. N.: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: from
air pollution to climate change, Second Edition, John Wiley, New Jersey, USA,
2006.
Shrivastava, M., Berg, L. K., Fast, J. F., Easter, R. C., Laskin, A.,
Chapman, E. G., Gustafson Jr., W. I., Liu, Y., and Berkowitz, C. M.:
Modelling aerosols and their interactions with shallow cumuli during the 2007
CHAPS field study, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 118, 1343–1360, 2013.
Taylor, K. E.: Summarizing multiple aspects of model performance in a single
diagram, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 7183–7192, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900719, 2001.
Tuccella, P., Curci, G., Visconti, G., Bessagnet, B., Menut, L., and Park, R.
J.: Modelling of gas and aerosol with WRF-Chem over Europe: Evaluation and
sensitivity study, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D03303, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016302,
2012.
Vasconcellos, P. C., Souza, D. Z., Sanchez-Ccoyllo, O. R., Bustillos, J. O.
V., Lee, H., Santos, F. C., Nascimento, K. H., Araujo, M. P., Saarnio, K.,
Teinila, K., and Hillamo, R.: Determination of anthropogenic and biogenic
compounds on atmospheric aerosol collected in urban, biomass burning and
forest areas in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sci. Total Environ., 408, 5836–5844,
2010.
Vieira-Filho, M. S., Pedrotti, J. J., and Fornaro, A.: Contribution of long
and mid-range transport on the sodium and potassium concentrations in
rainwater samples, Sao Paulo megacity, Brazil, Atmos. Environ., 79, 299–307,
2013.
Wedding, J. B., Weigand, M., John, W., and Wall, S.: Sampling effectiveness
of the inlet to the dichotomous sampler, Environ. Sci. Technol., 14,
1367–1370, 1980.
Ynoue, R. Y. and Andrade, M. F.: Size-resolved mass balance of aerosol
particles over the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area of Brazil, Aerosol Sci. Tech.,
1, 52–62, 2004.
Short summary
This study provides a first step to understand the impact of vehicular emissions on the formation of secondary particles as well as the feedback between these particles and meteorology in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). Among the main research findings are:
- The emissions of primary gases from vehicles led to a production between 20 and 30 % due to new particles formation in relation to the total mass concentration PM2.5 in the downtown SPMA.
This study provides a first step to understand the impact of vehicular emissions on the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint