Articles | Volume 18, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-12953-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-12953-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Sep 2018
Research article |
| 10 Sep 2018
| 10 Sep 2018
Intermittent turbulence contributes to vertical dispersion of PM2.5 in the North China Plain: cases from Tianjin
Wei Wei
State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of
Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, P.R. China
Hongsheng Zhang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University,
Beijing 100081, P.R. China
Bingui Wu
Tianjin Municipal Meteorological Bureau, Tianjin 300074, P.R. China
Yongxiang Huang
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen
University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
Xuhui Cai
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution
Control, Department of Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing
100081, P.R. China
Yu Song
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution
Control, Department of Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing
100081, P.R. China
Jianduo Li
State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of
Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, P.R. China
Related authors
No articles found.
Kun Qu, Xuesong Wang, Yu Yan, Xipeng Jin, Ling-Yan He, Xiao-Feng Huang, Xuhui Cai, Jin Shen, Zimu Peng, Teng Xiao, Mihalis Vrekoussis, Maria Kanakidou, Guy P. Brasseur, Nikos Daskalakis, Limin Zeng, and Yuanhang Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2404, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2404, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
Persistent cold-season PM2.5 pollution in a South China region during 2015–2017 was studied to assess the roles of drastic meteorological and emission changes. We found that meteorological variations, induced by a transition from El Niño to La Niña, were the main cause of persistent pollution, as stronger northerly winds enhanced pollutant transport into the region. In contrast, the effect of rapid emission reductions was limited. Recommendations for air quality improvement were also proposed.
Meiyan Liu, Yan Ren, Hongsheng Zhang, Min Zhang, Jiening Liang, Pengfei Tian, Xianjie Cao, Jiayun Li, and Lei Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-177, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-177, 2025
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
The occurrence of unexpected thermal plumes promotes the increase in PM2.5 concentrations during 10:00–13:00. During 14:00–18:00, small-scale turbulent eddies with timescales less than 15 min or even 2 min contributes to the rapid removal of PM2.5, ejections and sweeps enhance the exchange of pollutants interior and exterior the UCL. During 22:00–07:00, sub-mesoscale motions can enhance pollutant dispersion by driving intermittent turbulence bursts, or by forming organized coherent structures.
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa Molina
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-243, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-243, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Impacts of agricultural fertilization on nitrogen oxide and air quality are becoming more pronounced with continuous reductions in fossil fuel sources in China. We report that atmospheric nitrogen dioxide pulses driven by agricultural fertilizations largely complicate air pollution in North China, highlighting the necessity of agricultural emission control.
Kévin Robache, François G. Schmitt, and Yongxiang Huang
Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 32, 35–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-32-35-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-32-35-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, the multiscale dynamics of 38 oceanic and atmospheric pCO2 time series, sea surface temperature data, and salinity data from fixed buoys recorded with 3 h resolution are considered. The Fourier scaling exponents are estimated. The differences found for three ecosystems – coastal shelf, coral reefs and open ocean – are discussed. Multifractal properties of pCO2 difference between ocean and atmosphere are found and characterized over the scale range from 3 h to 1 year.
Nana Wu, Guannan Geng, Ruochong Xu, Shigan Liu, Xiaodong Liu, Qinren Shi, Ying Zhou, Yu Zhao, Huan Liu, Yu Song, Junyu Zheng, Qiang Zhang, and Kebin He
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 2893–2915, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2893-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2893-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The commonly used method for developing large-scale air pollutant emission datasets for China faces challenges due to limited availability of detailed parameter information. In this study, we develop an efficient integrated framework to gather such information by harmonizing seven heterogeneous inventories from five research institutions. Emission characterizations are analyzed and validated, demonstrating that the dataset provides more accurate emission magnitudes and spatiotemporal patterns.
Renmin Yuan, Hongsheng Zhang, Jiajia Hua, Hao Liu, Peizhe Wu, Xingyu Zhu, and Jianning Sun
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2089–2102, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2089-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2089-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Previously, a new method for atmospheric aerosol flux was proposed, and a large-aperture scintillometer was developed for experimental measurements, but the method was consistently not validated. In this paper, eddy correlation experiments for aerosol vertical transport fluxes were conducted to verify the reliability of the previous large-aperture scintillometer method. The experimental results also show that urban green land is a sink area for aerosol particles.
Meng Li, Junichi Kurokawa, Qiang Zhang, Jung-Hun Woo, Tazuko Morikawa, Satoru Chatani, Zifeng Lu, Yu Song, Guannan Geng, Hanwen Hu, Jinseok Kim, Owen R. Cooper, and Brian C. McDonald
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3925–3952, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3925-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3925-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we developed MIXv2, a mosaic Asian emission inventory for 2010–2017. With high spatial (0.1°) and monthly temporal resolution, MIXv2 integrates anthropogenic and open biomass burning emissions across seven sectors following a mosaic methodology. It provides CO2 emissions data alongside nine key pollutants and three chemical mechanisms. Our publicly accessible gridded monthly emissions data can facilitate long-term atmospheric and climate model analyses.
Xipeng Jin, Xuhui Cai, Xuesong Wang, Qianqian Huang, Yu Song, Ling Kang, Hongsheng Zhang, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 259–274, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-259-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-259-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This work presents a climatology of water vapour exchange flux between the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and free troposphere (FT) over eastern China. The water vapour exchange maintains ABL humidity in cold months and moistens the FT in warm seasons, and its distribution has terrain-dependent features. The exchange flux is correlated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index and precipitation pattern. The study provides new insight into moisture transport and extreme weather.
Kun Qu, Xuesong Wang, Xuhui Cai, Yu Yan, Xipeng Jin, Mihalis Vrekoussis, Maria Kanakidou, Guy P. Brasseur, Jin Shen, Teng Xiao, Limin Zeng, and Yuanhang Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7653–7671, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7653-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7653-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Basic understandings of ozone processes, especially transport and chemistry, are essential to support ozone pollution control, but studies often have different views on their relative importance. We developed a method to quantify their contributions in the ozone mass and concentration budgets based on the WRF-CMAQ model. Results in a polluted region highlight the differences between two budgets. For future studies, two budgets are both needed to fully understand the effects of ozone processes.
Chuanhua Ren, Xin Huang, Tengyu Liu, Yu Song, Zhang Wen, Xuejun Liu, Aijun Ding, and Tong Zhu
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1641–1659, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1641-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1641-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ammonia in the atmosphere has wide impacts on the ecological environment and air quality, and its emission from soil volatilization is highly sensitive to meteorology, making it challenging to be well captured in models. We developed a dynamic emission model capable of calculating ammonia emission interactively with meteorological and soil conditions. Such a coupling of soil emission with meteorology provides a better understanding of ammonia emission and its contribution to atmospheric aerosol.
Xiangde Xu, Yi Tang, Yinjun Wang, Hongshen Zhang, Ruixia Liu, and Mingyu Zhou
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3299–3309, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3299-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3299-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The vertical motion over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is associated with the anomalous convective activities. The diurnal variations and formation mechanisms of low clouds over the TP, Rocky Mountains and low-elevation regions are analyzed. We further discuss whether there exists a
high-efficiencytriggering mechanism for convection over the TP and whether there is an association among low air density and strong turbulence and ubiquitous popcorn-like cumulus clouds.
Qingliang Li, Gaosong Shi, Wei Shangguan, Vahid Nourani, Jianduo Li, Lu Li, Feini Huang, Ye Zhang, Chunyan Wang, Dagang Wang, Jianxiu Qiu, Xingjie Lu, and Yongjiu Dai
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 5267–5286, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-5267-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-5267-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
SMCI1.0 is a 1 km resolution dataset of daily soil moisture over China for 2000–2020 derived through machine learning trained with in situ measurements of 1789 stations, meteorological forcings, and land surface variables. It contains 10 soil layers with 10 cm intervals up to 100 cm deep. Evaluated by in situ data, the error (ubRMSE) ranges from 0.045 to 0.051, and the correlation (R) range is 0.866-0.893. Compared with ERA5-Land, SMAP-L4, and SoMo.ml, SIMI1.0 has higher accuracy and resolution.
Xipeng Jin, Xuhui Cai, Mingyuan Yu, Yu Song, Xuesong Wang, Hongsheng Zhang, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11409–11427, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11409-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11409-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Meteorological discontinuities in the vertical direction define the lowest atmosphere as the boundary layer, while in the horizontal direction it identifies the contrast zone as the internal boundary. Both of them determine the polluted air mass dimension over the North China Plain. This study reveals the boundary layer structures under three categories of internal boundaries, modified by thermal, dynamical, and blending effects. It provides a new insight to understand regional pollution.
Yueli Chen, Xingwu Duan, Minghu Ding, Wei Qi, Ting Wei, Jianduo Li, and Yun Xie
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2681–2695, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2681-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2681-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We reconstructed the first annual rainfall erosivity dataset for the Tibetan Plateau in China. The dataset covers 71 years in a 0.25° grid. The reanalysis precipitation data are employed in combination with the densely spaced in situ precipitation observations to generate the dataset. The dataset can supply fundamental data for quantifying the water erosion, and extend our knowledge of the rainfall-related hazard prediction on the Tibetan Plateau.
Suxia Yang, Bin Yuan, Yuwen Peng, Shan Huang, Wei Chen, Weiwei Hu, Chenglei Pei, Jun Zhou, David D. Parrish, Wenjie Wang, Xianjun He, Chunlei Cheng, Xiao-Bing Li, Xiaoyun Yang, Yu Song, Haichao Wang, Jipeng Qi, Baolin Wang, Chen Wang, Chaomin Wang, Zelong Wang, Tiange Li, E Zheng, Sihang Wang, Caihong Wu, Mingfu Cai, Chenshuo Ye, Wei Song, Peng Cheng, Duohong Chen, Xinming Wang, Zhanyi Zhang, Xuemei Wang, Junyu Zheng, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4539–4556, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4539-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4539-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We use a model constrained using observations to study the formation of nitrate aerosol in and downwind of a representative megacity. We found different contributions of various chemical reactions to ground-level nitrate concentrations between urban and suburban regions. We also show that controlling VOC emissions are effective for decreasing nitrate formation in both urban and regional environments, although VOCs are not direct precursors of nitrate aerosol.
Xuebo Li, Yongxiang Huang, Guohua Wang, and Xiaojing Zheng
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 5819–5830, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5819-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5819-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
High-frequency observatory data (50 Hz 3D wind velocity, 50 Hz temperature and 1 Hz PM10) for studying the features of the fluid and dust field during sand and dust storms were presented. It is anticipated that data collected in this work will be of utility not only specifically for the boundary layer community in building a model for sand and dust storms but also broadly for communities studying the exchange of the dust and fluid field and energy transfer for the particle-laden two-phase flow.
Xiao Han, Lingyun Zhu, Mingxu Liu, Yu Song, and Meigen Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 9979–9996, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9979-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9979-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
China is one of the largest agricultural countries in the world. Some of the major PM2.5 particles that cause the atmospheric haze and impact the climate change were converted from agricultural NH3 emission. This paper applied the numerical modeling system, coupled with a high-resolution agricultural NH3 emissions inventory, to investigate the contribution of agricultural NH3 to PM2.5 mass burden in China and obtained some interesting results.
Tiantian Wang, Yu Song, Zhenying Xu, Mingxu Liu, Tingting Xu, Wenling Liao, Lifei Yin, Xuhui Cai, Ling Kang, Hongsheng Zhang, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 8727–8736, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8727-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8727-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite measurements have revealed that the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) has the global maximum ammonia concentrations, with a peak from June to August. Here, we studied the reasons for this phenomenon through computer simulations. Low sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions and high air temperature over the IGP weaken the swallowing of gaseous ammonia by acidic gases. Additionally, the barrier effects of the Himalayas, like a windshield, are also conducive to the accumulation of ammonia.
Lifei Yin, Zhenying Xu, Mingxu Liu, Tingting Xu, Tiantian Wang, Wenling Liao, Mengmeng Li, Xuhui Cai, Ling Kang, Hongsheng Zhang, and Yu Song
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-458, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-458, 2020
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) emission of terrestrial vegetation is an important part of biogeochemical cycle. Compared with previous studies which calculate regional BVOC emissions independently, the coupled model WRF-CLM-MEGAN achieves an integrated parameterization of BVOC emissions and other land surface processes, and therefore provides a more reasonable estimate. The model could be further coupled with chemistry module to fully investigate the land-atmosphere interactions.
Yue Liu, Mei Zheng, Mingyuan Yu, Xuhui Cai, Huiyun Du, Jie Li, Tian Zhou, Caiqing Yan, Xuesong Wang, Zongbo Shi, Roy M. Harrison, Qiang Zhang, and Kebin He
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 6595–6609, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-6595-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-6595-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study is part of the UK–China APHH campaign. To identify both source types and source regions at the same time, this study developed a combined method including receptor model, footprint model, and air quality model for the first time to investigate sources of PM2.5 during haze episodes in Beijing. It is an expansion of the application of the receptor model and is helpful for formulating effective control strategies to improve air quality in this region.
Zhenying Xu, Mingxu Liu, Minsi Zhang, Yu Song, Shuxiao Wang, Lin Zhang, Tingting Xu, Tiantian Wang, Caiqing Yan, Tian Zhou, Yele Sun, Yuepeng Pan, Min Hu, Mei Zheng, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 5605–5613, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5605-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5605-2019, 2019
Lifei Yin, Pin Du, Minsi Zhang, Mingxu Liu, Tingting Xu, and Yu Song
Biogeosciences, 16, 1629–1640, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1629-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1629-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Biomass burning is an important source of trace gases and aerosols in China, with a significant contribution from small-sized crop residue fires. Compared with conventional methods for emission estimation, the approach based on fire radiative energy (FRE) provides a more reasonable estimate for small-fire emissions. By using FRE data derived from satellites, we developed a long-term biomass burning emission inventory for China with a higher resolution (daily, 1 km) than previous studies.
Junting Zhong, Xiaoye Zhang, Yaqiang Wang, Jizhi Wang, Xiaojing Shen, Hongsheng Zhang, Tijian Wang, Zhouqing Xie, Cheng Liu, Hengde Zhang, Tianliang Zhao, Junying Sun, Shaojia Fan, Zhiqiu Gao, Yubin Li, and Linlin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 3287–3306, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-3287-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-3287-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
In various haze regions in China, including the Guanzhong Plain, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Pearl River Delta, the Sichuan Basin, and the Northeast China Plain, heavy aerosol pollution episodes include inter-/trans-regional transport stages and cumulative stages (CSs). During CSs a two-way feedback mechanism exists between unfavorable meteorological conditions and cumulative aerosol pollution. This two-way feedback is further quantified and its magnitude is compared.
Yan Ren, Hongsheng Zhang, Wei Wei, Bingui Wu, Xuhui Cai, and Yu Song
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 1041–1057, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1041-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1041-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
During the heavy pollution process, there are overestimations regarding the exchange between the atmosphere and surface since the normal calculation of turbulent fluxes includes the impact of sub-mesoscale motion. The intermittent turbulence intensity is closely related to the concentration of PM2.5. The intermittency is weaker over the complex surface condition than over the flat terrain, and urbanization reduces the degree of weakening in turbulent exchange during the heavy pollution process.
Mingxu Liu, Xin Huang, Yu Song, Tingting Xu, Shuxiao Wang, Zhijun Wu, Min Hu, Lin Zhang, Qiang Zhang, Yuepeng Pan, Xuejun Liu, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 17933–17943, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17933-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17933-2018, 2018
Yujue Wang, Min Hu, Song Guo, Yuchen Wang, Jing Zheng, Yudong Yang, Wenfei Zhu, Rongzhi Tang, Xiao Li, Ying Liu, Michael Le Breton, Zhuofei Du, Dongjie Shang, Yusheng Wu, Zhijun Wu, Yu Song, Shengrong Lou, Mattias Hallquist, and Jianzhen Yu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10693–10713, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10693-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10693-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The overall characteristics and concentrations of organosulfates (OSs) and nitrooxy-OSs (NOSs) were determined in summer in Beijing. This study provided direct observational evidence that OSs form via acid-catalyzed aqueous-phase reactions in the presence of acidic sulfate aerosols, and monoterpene NOSs form via nighttime NO3 oxidation. Using OSs and NOSs as examples, this work highlights the formation pathways of SOA via anthropogenic–biogenic interactions and organic–inorganic reactions.
Qianqian Huang, Xuhui Cai, Jian Wang, Yu Song, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 7573–7593, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7573-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7573-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Air stagnation index is a vital meteorological measure of the atmosphere's ability to dilute air pollutants. We propose a Boundary-layer air Stagnation Index (BSI) based on daily maximal ventilation, real latent instability and precipitation. The BSI is positively correlated with API during 2000–2012, tracks the day-by-day variation of PM2.5 concentration during January 2013 in Beijing well, and successfully represents the improved air quality during November and December in 2017.
Lin Zhang, Youfan Chen, Yuanhong Zhao, Daven K. Henze, Liye Zhu, Yu Song, Fabien Paulot, Xuejun Liu, Yuepeng Pan, Yi Lin, and Binxiang Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 339–355, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-339-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-339-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Substantial differences exist in current estimates of agricultural ammonia emissions in China, hindering understanding of their environmental consequences. This study applies both bottom-up and top-down methods to better quantify agricultural ammonia sources in China using observations from satellite and surface networks interpreted by a chemical transport model. Our estimate of annual Chinese anthropogenic ammonia emission is 11.7 tg (teragram) for 2008 with a strong seasonality peak in summer.
Qianqian Huang, Xuhui Cai, Yu Song, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 7793–7805, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7793-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7793-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Air stagnation is an important meteorological measure of unfavorable air conditions, and previous studies have found that stagnation events are usually related to air pollution episodes. China is currently experiencing heavy air pollution, but to our knowledge, little is known about air stagnation in the country. In this paper, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of air stagnation climatology in China based on sounding and surface observations across the country.
Huan Yao, Yu Song, Mingxu Liu, Scott Archer-Nicholls, Douglas Lowe, Gordon McFiggans, Tingting Xu, Pin Du, Jianfeng Li, Yusheng Wu, Min Hu, Chun Zhao, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 5205–5219, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5205-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-5205-2017, 2017
Meng Li, Qiang Zhang, Jun-ichi Kurokawa, Jung-Hun Woo, Kebin He, Zifeng Lu, Toshimasa Ohara, Yu Song, David G. Streets, Gregory R. Carmichael, Yafang Cheng, Chaopeng Hong, Hong Huo, Xujia Jiang, Sicong Kang, Fei Liu, Hang Su, and Bo Zheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 935–963, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-935-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-935-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
An anthropogenic emission inventory for Asia is developed for the years 2008 and 2010 to support the Model Inter-Comparison Study for Asia (MICS-Asia) and the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (TF HTAP) projects by a mosaic of up-to-date regional emission inventories. The total Asian emissions in 2010 are estimated as follows: 51.3 Tg SO2, 52.1 Tg NOx, 336.5 Tg CO, 67.0 Tg NMVOC, 28.7 Tg NH3, 31.7 Tg PM10, 22.7 Tg PM2.5, 3.5 Tg BC, 8.3 Tg OC, and 17.3 Pg CO2.
Yang Hua, Shuxiao Wang, Jiandong Wang, Jingkun Jiang, Tianshu Zhang, Yu Song, Ling Kang, Wei Zhou, Runlong Cai, Di Wu, Siwei Fan, Tong Wang, Xiaoqing Tang, Qiang Wei, Feng Sun, and Zhimei Xiao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 15451–15460, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15451-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15451-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The characteristics of three PM2.5 pollution episodes were analyzed during the APEC Summit at a rural site outside of Beijing. It was found that meteorological conditions on the ground could not explain the pollution process, while vertical parameters helped improve the understanding of heavy pollution processes. Our research suggests that regional transport of air pollutants contributes significantly to severe secondary particle pollution, even when local emission is controlled effectively.
Yaning Kang, Mingxu Liu, Yu Song, Xin Huang, Huan Yao, Xuhui Cai, Hongsheng Zhang, Ling Kang, Xuejun Liu, Xiaoyuan Yan, Hong He, Qiang Zhang, Min Shao, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 2043–2058, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2043-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2043-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The multi-year (1980–2012) comprehensive ammonia emissions inventories were compiled for China on 1 km × 1 km grid.
Various realistic parameters (ambient temperature, wind speed, soil acidity, synthetic fertilizer types, etc.) were considered in these inventories to synthetically refine the emission factors of ammonia volatilization according to local agricultural practice.
This paper shows the interannual trend and spatial distribution of ammonia emissions in details over recent decades.
X. Li and H. S. Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-13-2671-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-13-2671-2013, 2013
Revised manuscript not accepted
Related subject area
Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Field Measurements | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
Measurement report: The influence of particle number size distribution and hygroscopicity on the microphysical properties of cloud droplets at a mountain site
Measurement report: Long-term assessment of primary and secondary organic aerosols in the Shanghai megacity throughout China's Clean Air actions since 2010
The evolution of aerosol mixing state derived from a field campaign in Beijing: implications for particle aging timescales in urban atmospheres
Measurement report: Size-resolved particle effective density measured by an AAC-SMPS and implications for chemical composition
Measurement report: Aircraft observations of aerosol and microphysical quantities of stratocumulus in autumn over Guangxi Province, China – daylight variation, vertical distribution, and aerosol–cloud interactions
Hygroscopic aerosols amplify longwave downward radiation in the Arctic
Measurement report: Optical and structural properties of atmospheric water-soluble organic carbon in China – insights from multi-site spectroscopic measurements
Measurement report: The variation properties of aerosol hygroscopic growth related to chemical composition during new particle formation days in a coastal city of Southeast China
In situ vertical observations of the layered structure of air pollution in a continental high-latitude urban boundary layer during winter
Size-resolved hygroscopicity and volatility properties of ambient urban aerosol particles measured by a volatility hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer system in Beijing
Terrestrial runoff is an important source of biological ice-nucleating particles in Arctic marine systems
Characterization of aerosol over the eastern Mediterranean by polarization-sensitive Raman lidar measurements during A-LIFE – aerosol type classification and type separation
Aerosol spectral optical properties in the Paris urban area and its peri-urban and forested surroundings during summer 2022 from ACROSS surface observations
Measurement report: An investigation of the spatiotemporal variability in aerosols in the mountainous terrain of the upper Colorado River basin using SAIL-Net
Contributions of the synoptic meteorology to the seasonal cloud condensation nuclei cycle over the Southern Ocean
Measurement report: Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the South China Sea from shipborne observations during the summer and winter of 2021 – seasonal variation and anthropogenic influence
Differential characterization of air ions in boreal forest of Finland and megacity of eastern China
Source-Dependent Optical Properties and Molecular Characteristics of Atmospheric Brown Carbon
On-road vehicle emission measurements show a significant reduction of black carbon and nitrogen oxides emissions in Euro6c and 6d diesel-powered cars
Measurement report: A comparative analysis of an intensive incursion of fluorescing African dust particles over Puerto Rico and another over Spain
Measurement report: Analysis of aerosol optical depth variation at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica
External particle mixing influences hygroscopicity in a sub-urban area
Long-term observations of black carbon and carbon monoxide in the Poker Flat Research Range, central Alaska, with a focus on forest wildfire emissions
High ice-nucleating particle concentrations associated with Arctic haze in springtime cold-air outbreaks
CCN estimations at a high-altitude remote site: role of organic aerosol variability and hygroscopicity
Aerosol hygroscopicity over the southeast Atlantic Ocean during the biomass burning season – Part 1: From the perspective of scattering enhancement
Spatial, temporal, and meteorological impact of the 26 February 2023 dust storm: increase in particulate matter concentrations across New Mexico and West Texas
Large spatiotemporal variability in aerosol properties over central Argentina during the CACTI field campaign
Microphysical properties of refractory black carbon aerosols for different air masses at a central European background site
Quantification and characterization of primary biological aerosol particles and microbes aerosolized from Baltic seawater
Brownness of organics in anthropogenic biomass burning aerosols over South Asia
Multi-year black carbon observations and modeling close to the largest gas flaring and wildfire regions (Western Siberian Arctic)
Strong influence of Black Carbon on aerosol optical properties in Central Amazonia during the fire season
Source apportionment of particle number size distribution at the street canyon and urban background sites
Long-range transport of coarse mineral dust: an evaluation of the Met Office Unified Model against aircraft observations
Extreme Saharan dust events expand northward over the Atlantic and Europe, prompting record-breaking PM10 and PM2.5 episodes
Atmospheric black carbon in the metropolitan area of La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia: concentration levels and emission sources
Changing optical properties of black carbon and brown carbon aerosols during long-range transport from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the equatorial Indian Ocean
Aerosol size distribution properties associated with cold-air outbreaks in the Norwegian Arctic
Ice-nucleating particles active below −24 °C in a Finnish boreal forest and their relationship to bioaerosols
Measurements of particle emissions of an A350-941 burning 100 % sustainable aviation fuels in cruise
Vertical distribution of ice nucleating particles over the boreal forest of Hyytiälä, Finland
Multi-year gradient measurements of sea spray fluxes over the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean
Measurement report: In situ vertical profiles of below-cloud aerosol over the central Greenland Ice Sheet
Occurrence, abundance, and formation of atmospheric tarballs from a wide range of wildfires in the western US
Measurement report: Contribution of atmospheric new particle formation to ultrafine particle concentration, cloud condensation nuclei, and radiative forcing – results from 5-year observations in central Europe
Simulated contrail-processed aviation soot aerosols are poor ice-nucleating particles at cirrus temperatures
Biological and dust aerosols as sources of ice-nucleating particles in the eastern Mediterranean: source apportionment, atmospheric processing and parameterization
Quantifying the dust direct radiative effect in the southwestern United States: findings from multiyear measurements
How horizontal transport and turbulent mixing impact aerosol particle and precursor concentrations at a background site in the UAE
Xiaojing Shen, Quan Liu, Junying Sun, Wanlin Kong, Qianli Ma, Bing Qi, Lujie Han, Yangmei Zhang, Linlin Liang, Lei Liu, Shuo Liu, Xinyao Hu, Jiayuan Lu, Aoyuan Yu, Huizheng Che, and Xiaoye Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5711–5725, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5711-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5711-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, an automatic switched inlet system was developed and employed to investigate the aerosols and cloud droplets at a mountain site with frequent cloud processes. It showed different characteristics of cloud residual and interstitial particles. Stronger particle hygroscopicity reduced liquid water content and smaller cloud droplet diameters. This investigation contributes to understanding aerosol–cloud interactions by assessing the impact of aerosol particles on cloud microphysics.
Haifeng Yu, Yunhua Chang, Lin Cheng, Yusen Duan, and Jianlin Hu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5355–5369, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5355-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5355-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents long-term measurements and comprehensive analysis of carbonaceous aerosols in fine particles in Shanghai. We further estimated primary and secondary carbon levels, examining their temporal variations on interannual, monthly, seasonal, and diurnal scales. Through rigorous statistical analysis and correlation studies with meteorological parameters and pollutant concentrations, the origins, formation mechanisms, and spatial distribution patterns of secondary organic carbon were elucidated.
Jieyao Liu, Fang Zhang, Jingye Ren, Lu Chen, Anran Zhang, Zhe Wang, Songjian Zou, Honghao Xu, and Xingyan Yue
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5075–5086, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5075-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5075-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Particle mixing states and aging timescales are important for the evaluation of aerosol climate effects, but they are poorly parameterized in current models. We unravel the evolution of real-time mixing states and the aging timescale of size-resolved particles based on field measurements in urban Beijing. This study provides an observational basis for accurately parameterizing the aging timescale of aerosol particles in climate models.
Yao Song, Jing Wei, Wenlong Zhao, Jinmei Ding, Xiangyu Pei, Fei Zhang, Zhengning Xu, Ruifang Shi, Ya Wei, Lu Zhang, Lingling Jin, and Zhibin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4755–4766, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4755-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4755-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the size-resolved effective density (ρeff) of aerosol particles in Hangzhou using a tandem aerodynamic aerosol classifier and scanning mobility particle sizer system. The ρeff values ranged from 1.47 to 1.63 g cm-3, increasing with particle diameter. The relationship between ρeff and the particle diameter varies due to differences in the chemical composition of the particles. A new method to derive the size-resolved chemical composition of particles from ρeff is proposed.
Sihan Liu, Honglei Wang, Delong Zhao, Wei Zhou, Yuanmou Du, Zhengguo Zhang, Peng Cheng, Tianliang Zhao, Yue Ke, Zihao Wu, and Mengyu Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4151–4165, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4151-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4151-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
To understand the effect of aerosols on the vertical distribution of stratocumulus microphysical quantities in southwest China, the daily variation characteristics and formation mechanism of the vertical profiles of stratocumulus microphysical characteristics in this region were described using the data of nine cloud-crossing aircraft observations over Guangxi from 10 October to 3 November 2020.
Denghui Ji, Mathias Palm, Matthias Buschmann, Kerstin Ebell, Marion Maturilli, Xiaoyu Sun, and Justus Notholt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3889–3904, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3889-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3889-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study explores how certain aerosols, like sea salt, affect infrared heat radiation in the Arctic, potentially speeding up warming. We used advanced technology to measure aerosol composition and found that these particles grow with humidity, significantly increasing their heat-trapping effect in the infrared region, especially in winter. Our findings suggest these aerosols could be a key factor in Arctic warming, emphasizing the importance of understanding aerosols for climate prediction.
Haibiao Chen, Caiqing Yan, Liubin Huang, Lin Du, Yang Yue, Xinfeng Wang, Qingcai Chen, Mingjie Xie, Junwen Liu, Fengwen Wang, Shuhong Fang, Qiaoyun Yang, Hongya Niu, Mei Zheng, Yan Wu, and Likun Xue
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3647–3667, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3647-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3647-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A comprehensive understanding of the optical properties of brown carbon (BrC) is essential to accurately assess its climatic effects. Based on multi-site spectroscopic measurements, this study demonstrated the significant spatial heterogeneity in the optical and structural properties of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in different regions of China and revealed factors affecting WSOC light absorption and the relationship between fluorophores and light absorption of WSOC.
Lingjun Li, Mengren Li, Xiaolong Fan, Yuping Chen, Ziyi Lin, Anqi Hou, Siqing Zhang, Ronghua Zheng, and Jinsheng Chen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3669–3685, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3669-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3669-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we show differences and variations in the aerosol scattering hygroscopic growth factor (f(RH)) between new particle formation (NPF) and non-NPF days and the effect of aerosol chemical compositions on f(RH) in Xiamen with in situ observations. The findings are helpful for the further understanding of aerosol hygroscopicity in a coastal city and the use of hygroscopic growth factors in models of air quality and climate change.
Roman Pohorsky, Andrea Baccarini, Natalie Brett, Brice Barret, Slimane Bekki, Gianluca Pappaccogli, Elsa Dieudonné, Brice Temime-Roussel, Barbara D'Anna, Meeta Cesler-Maloney, Antonio Donateo, Stefano Decesari, Kathy S. Law, William R. Simpson, Javier Fochesatto, Steve R. Arnold, and Julia Schmale
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3687–3715, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3687-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3687-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents an analysis of vertical measurements of pollution in an Alaskan city during winter. It investigates the relationship between the atmospheric structure and the layering of aerosols and trace gases. Results indicate an overall very shallow surface mixing layer. The height of this layer is strongly influenced by a local shallow wind. The study also provides information on the pollution chemical composition at different altitudes, including pollution signatures from power plants.
Aoyuan Yu, Xiaojing Shen, Qianli Ma, Jiayuan Lu, Xinyao Hu, Yangmei Zhang, Quan Liu, Linlin Liang, Lei Liu, Shuo Liu, Hongfei Tong, Huizheng Che, Xiaoye Zhang, and Junying Sun
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3389–3412, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3389-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3389-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we utilized a volatility hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (VH-TDMA) to investigate, for the first time, the hygroscopicity and volatility of submicron aerosols, as well as their hygroscopicity after heating, in urban Beijing during the autumn of 2023. We analyzed the size-resolved characteristics of hygroscopicity and volatility, the relationship between hygroscopic and volatile properties, and the hygroscopicity of heated submicron aerosols.
Corina Wieber, Lasse Z. Jensen, Leendert Vergeynst, Lorenz Meire, Thomas Juul-Pedersen, Kai Finster, and Tina Šantl-Temkiv
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3327–3346, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3327-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3327-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic region is subject to profound changes due to a warming climate. Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) in the seawater can get transported to the atmosphere and impact cloud formation. However, the sources of characteristics of INPs in the marine areas are poorly understood. We investigated the INPs in seawater from Greenlandic fjords and identified a seasonal variability, with highly active INPs originating from terrestrial sources such as glacial and soil runoff.
Silke Groß, Volker Freudenthaler, Moritz Haarig, Albert Ansmann, Carlos Toledano, David Mateos, Petra Seibert, Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri, Argyro Nisantzi, Josef Gasteiger, Maximilian Dollner, Anne Tipka, Manuel Schöberl, Marilena Teri, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3191–3211, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3191-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3191-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosols contribute to the largest uncertainties in climate change predictions. The eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot for aerosols with natural and anthropogenic contributions. We present lidar measurements performed during A-LIFE (Absorbing aerosol layers in a changing climate: aging, lifetime and dynamics) to characterize aerosols and aerosol mixtures. We extend current lidar classification and separation schemes and compare them to classification schemes using different methods.
Ludovico Di Antonio, Claudia Di Biagio, Paola Formenti, Aline Gratien, Vincent Michoud, Christopher Cantrell, Astrid Bauville, Antonin Bergé, Mathieu Cazaunau, Servanne Chevaillier, Manuela Cirtog, Patrice Coll, Barbara D'Anna, Joel F. de Brito, David O. De Haan, Juliette R. Dignum, Shravan Deshmukh, Olivier Favez, Pierre-Marie Flaud, Cecile Gaimoz, Lelia N. Hawkins, Julien Kammer, Brigitte Language, Franck Maisonneuve, Griša Močnik, Emilie Perraudin, Jean-Eudes Petit, Prodip Acharja, Laurent Poulain, Pauline Pouyes, Eva Drew Pronovost, Véronique Riffault, Kanuri I. Roundtree, Marwa Shahin, Guillaume Siour, Eric Villenave, Pascal Zapf, Gilles Foret, Jean-François Doussin, and Matthias Beekmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3161–3189, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3161-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3161-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The spectral complex refractive index (CRI) and single scattering albedo were retrieved from submicron aerosol measurements at three sites within the greater Paris area during the ACROSS field campaign (June–July 2022). Measurements revealed urban emission impact on surrounding areas. CRI full period averages at 520 nm were 1.41 – 0.037i (urban), 1.52 – 0.038i (peri-urban), and 1.50 – 0.025i (rural). Organic aerosols dominated the aerosol mass and contributed up to 22 % of absorption at 370 nm.
Leah D. Gibson, Ezra J. T. Levin, Ethan Emerson, Nick Good, Anna Hodshire, Gavin McMeeking, Kate Patterson, Bryan Rainwater, Tom Ramin, and Ben Swanson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2745–2762, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2745-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2745-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
From fall 2021 to summer 2023, SAIL-Net, a network of six aerosol measurement nodes, was deployed in the East River watershed (Colorado, USA) to study aerosol variability across space and time in mountainous terrain. We found that aerosol variability is influenced by elevation differences, with the most representative site in the region changing seasonally, suggesting aerosol spatial variability also varies seasonally. This work offers a blueprint for future studies in other mountainous regions.
Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, Yi Huang, Francisco Lang, Steven Siems, Michael Manton, Luis Ackermann, Melita Keywood, Ruhi Humphries, Paul Krummel, Alastair Williams, and Greg Ayers
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2631–2648, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2631-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2631-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds over the Southern Ocean are crucial to Earth's energy balance, but understanding the factors that control them is complex. Our research examines how weather patterns affect tiny particles called cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), which influence cloud properties. Using data from Kennaook / Cape Grim, we found that winter air from Antarctica brings cleaner conditions with lower CCN, while summer patterns from Australia transport more particles. Precipitation also helps reduce CCN in winter.
Hengjia Ou, Mingfu Cai, Yongyun Zhang, Xue Ni, Baoling Liang, Qibin Sun, Shixin Mai, Cuizhi Sun, Shengzhen Zhou, Haichao Wang, Jiaren Sun, and Jun Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2495–2513, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2495-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2495-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Two shipborne observations in the South China Sea (SCS) in summer and winter 2021 were conducted. Our study found aerosol hygroscopicity is higher in the SCS in summer than winter, with significant influences from various terrestrial air masses. Aerosol size distribution had a stronger effect on activation ratio than aerosol hygroscopicity in summer and vice versa in winter. Our study provides valuable information to enhance our understanding of cloud condensation nuclei activities in the SCS.
Tinghan Zhang, Ximeng Qi, Janne Lampilahti, Liangduo Chen, Xuguang Chi, Wei Nie, Xin Huang, Zehao Zou, Wei Du, Tom Kokkonen, Tuukka Petäjä, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Aijun Ding, and Markku Kulmala
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3370, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3370, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
By comparing air ions at two “flagship” sites —the SMEAR II site in the boreal forest of Finland and the SORPES site in a megacity in eastern China—we characterized ion concentrations and their roles in new particle formation (NPF) across contrasting environments. The ion-induced fraction was much higher in clean areas. However, earlier activation of charged particles and high ion-induced fraction during quiet NPF at SORPES imply a non-negligible role for ion-induced NPF in polluted areas.
Jinghao Zhai, Yin Zhang, Pengfei Liu, Yujie Zhang, Antai Zhang, Yaling Zeng, Baohua Cai, Jingyi Zhang, Chunbo Xing, Honglong Yang, Xiaofei Wang, Jianhuai Ye, Chen Wang, Tzung-May Fu, Lei Zhu, Huizhong Shen, Shu Tao, and Xin Yang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-463, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-463, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our findings show that BrC's optical properties vary by source. Secondary BrC from ozone pollution had the lowest absorption but highest wavelength dependence, while BrC from biomass combustion had the highest absorption with the lowest wavelength dependence. Molecular analysis indicated that CHON species from biomass burning had the strongest light absorption. These insights enhance the accuracy of climate models by highlighting source-specific optical properties of BrC.
Irena Ježek Brecelj, Asta Gregorič, Lucijan Zgonik, Tjaša Rutar, Matic Ivančič, Balint Alfoldy, Griša Močnik, and Martin Rigler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3553, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3553, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Following a major car industry scandal involving diesel emissions tests, Europe introduced new testing procedures. However, concerns remained about their effectiveness. Our independent study examined real-world vehicle emissions and revealed encouraging findings: modern diesel cars perform as well as, or even better than, gasoline cars in terms of nitrogen oxides emissions. We found the same pattern for soot particles, challenging common perceptions about diesel's environmental impact.
Bighnaraj Sarangi, Darrel Baumgardner, Ana Isabel Calvo, Benjamin Bolaños-Rosero, Roberto Fraile, Alberto Rodríguez-Fernández, Delia Fernández-González, Carlos Blanco-Alegre, Cátia Gonçalves, Estela D. Vicente, and Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 843–865, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-843-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-843-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of fluorescing aerosol particle properties have been made during two major African dust events, one over the island of Puerto Rico and the other over the city of León, Spain. The measurements were made with two wideband integrated bioaerosol spectrometers. A significant change in the background aerosol properties, at both locations, is observed when the dust is in the respective regions.
Lijing Chen, Lei Zhang, Yong She, Zhaoliang Zeng, Yu Zheng, Biao Tian, Wenqian Zhang, Zhaohui Liu, Huizheng Che, and Minghu Ding
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 727–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-727-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-727-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol optical depth (AOD) at Zhongshan Station varies seasonally, with lower values in summer and higher values in winter. Winter and spring AOD increases due to reduced fine-mode particles, while summer and autumn increases are linked to particle growth. Diurnal AOD variation correlates positively with temperature but negatively with wind speed and humidity. Backward trajectories show that aerosols on high-AOD (low-AOD) days primarily originate from the ocean (interior Antarctica).
Shravan Deshmukh, Laurent Poulain, Birgit Wehner, Silvia Henning, Jean-Eudes Petit, Pauline Fombelle, Olivier Favez, Hartmut Herrmann, and Mira Pöhlker
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 741–758, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-741-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-741-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol hygroscopicity has been investigated at a sub-urban site in Paris; analysis shows the sub-saturated regime's measured hygroscopicity and the chemically derived hygroscopic growth, shedding light on the large effect of external particle mixing and its influence on predicting hygroscopicity.
Takeshi Kinase, Fumikazu Taketani, Masayuki Takigawa, Chunmao Zhu, Yongwon Kim, Petr Mordovskoi, and Yugo Kanaya
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 143–156, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-143-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-143-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Boreal forest wildfires in interior Alaska represent an important black carbon (BC) source for the Arctic and surrounding regions. We observed BC and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in the Poker Flat Research Range since 2016 and found a positive correlation between the observed BC / ∆CO ratio and fire radiative power (FRP) observed in Alaska and Canada. Our finding suggests the BC emission factor and/or inventory could be potentially improved by using FRP.
Erin N. Raif, Sarah L. Barr, Mark D. Tarn, James B. McQuaid, Martin I. Daily, Steven J. Abel, Paul A. Barrett, Keith N. Bower, Paul R. Field, Kenneth S. Carslaw, and Benjamin J. Murray
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 14045–14072, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14045-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-14045-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) allow ice to form in clouds at temperatures warmer than −35°C. We measured INP concentrations over the Norwegian and Barents seas in weather events where cold air is ejected from the Arctic. These concentrations were among the highest measured in the Arctic. It is likely that the INPs were transported to the Arctic from distant regions. These results show it is important to consider hemispheric-scale INP processes to understand INP concentrations in the Arctic.
Fernando Rejano, Andrea Casans, Marta Via, Juan Andrés Casquero-Vera, Sonia Castillo, Hassan Lyamani, Alberto Cazorla, Elisabeth Andrews, Daniel Pérez-Ramírez, Andrés Alastuey, Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno, Lucas Alados-Arboledas, Francisco José Olmo, and Gloria Titos
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13865–13888, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13865-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13865-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study provides valuable insights to improve cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) estimations at a high-altitude remote site which is influenced by nearby urban pollution. Understanding the factors that affect CCN estimations is essential to improve the CCN data coverage worldwide and assess aerosol–cloud interactions on a global scale. This is crucial for improving climate models, since aerosol–cloud interactions are the most important source of uncertainty in climate projections.
Lu Zhang, Michal Segal-Rozenhaimer, Haochi Che, Caroline Dang, Junying Sun, Ye Kuang, Paola Formenti, and Steven G. Howell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13849–13864, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13849-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13849-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using airborne measurements over the southeast Atlantic Ocean, we examined how much moisture aerosols take up during Africa’s biomass burning season. Our study revealed the important role of organic aerosols and introduced a predictive model for moisture uptake, accounting for organics, sulfate, and black carbon, summarizing results from various campaigns. These findings improve our understanding of aerosol–moisture interactions and their radiative effects in this climatically critical region.
Mary C. Robinson, Kaitlin Schueth, and Karin Ardon-Dryer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13733–13750, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13733-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13733-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
On 26 February 2023, New Mexico and West Texas were impacted by a severe dust storm. To analyze this storm, 28 meteorological stations and 19 PM2.5 and PM10 stations were used. Dust particles were in the air for 16 h, and dust storm conditions lasted for up to 120 min. Hourly PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were up to 518 and 9983 µg m−3, respectively. For Lubbock, Texas, the maximum PM2.5 concentrations were the highest ever recorded.
Jerome D. Fast, Adam C. Varble, Fan Mei, Mikhail Pekour, Jason Tomlinson, Alla Zelenyuk, Art J. Sedlacek III, Maria Zawadowicz, and Louisa Emmons
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13477–13502, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol property measurements recently collected on the ground and by a research aircraft in central Argentina during the Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) campaign exhibit large spatial and temporal variability. These measurements coupled with coincident meteorological information provide a valuable data set needed to evaluate and improve model predictions of aerosols in a traditionally data-sparse region of South America.
Yifan Yang, Thomas Müller, Laurent Poulain, Samira Atabakhsh, Bruna A. Holanda, Jens Voigtländer, Shubhi Arora, and Mira L. Pöhlker
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3539, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3539, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) is the major atmospheric aerosol that can absorb light and influence climate. We measured the physical properties of BC at a background site in Germany. In summer, BC particles were smaller and the mixture with other atmospheric components occurred during the daytime. In winter, emissions from residential heating significantly influenced BC's properties. Understanding these characteristics of BC can help improve aerosol optics simulation accuracy.
Julika Zinke, Gabriel Pereira Freitas, Rachel Ann Foster, Paul Zieger, Ernst Douglas Nilsson, Piotr Markuszewski, and Matthew Edward Salter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13413–13428, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13413-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13413-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Bioaerosols, which can influence climate and human health, were studied in the Baltic Sea. In May and August 2021, we used a sea spray simulation chamber during two ship-based campaigns to collect and measure these aerosols. We found that microbes were enriched in air compared to seawater. Bacterial diversity was analysed using DNA sequencing. Our methods provided consistent estimates of microbial emission fluxes, aligning with previous studies.
Chimurkar Navinya, Taveen Singh Kapoor, Gupta Anurag, Chandra Venkataraman, Harish C. Phuleria, and Rajan K. Chakrabarty
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13285–13297, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13285-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13285-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Brown carbon (BrC) aerosols show an order-of-magnitude variation in their light absorption strength. Our understanding of BrC from real-world biomass burning remains limited, complicating the determination of its radiative impact. Our study reports absorption properties of BrC emitted from four major biomass burning sources using field measurements in India. It develops an absorption parameterization for BrC and examines the spatial variability in BrC's absorption strength across India.
Olga B. Popovicheva, Marina A. Chichaeva, Nikolaos Evangeliou, Sabine Eckhardt, Evangelia Diapouli, and Nikolay S. Kasimov
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3124, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3124, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
High-quality measurements of light-absorbing carbon were performed at the polar aerosol station "Island Bely” (Western Siberian Arctic) from 2019 to 2022. The maximum light absorption coefficients were seen in summer due to gas flaring contribution, which is the most significant source in the region. However, the increasing Siberian wildfires had a special share in carbon contribution to this high Arctic station with a persistent smoke layer extending over the whole troposphere in summer.
Rafael Stern, Joel F. de Brito, Samara Carbone, Luciana Varanda Rizzo, Jonathan Daniel Muller, and Paulo Artaxo
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3339, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3339, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our work reveals the impact of forest fires on climate. We found that particles related to direct emissions from fires, beyond the well-known effect of absorbing light and thus heating the atmosphere, are also very efficient in scattering light, which causes an atmospheric cooling effect. In our remote study site, most of the particles presented a different chemical composition then particles directly emitted by the fires, but those were the main responsible for total light extinction.
Sami D. Harni, Minna Aurela, Sanna Saarikoski, Jarkko V. Niemi, Harri Portin, Hanna Manninen, Ville Leinonen, Pasi Aalto, Phil K. Hopke, Tuukka Petäjä, Topi Rönkkö, and Hilkka Timonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12143–12160, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12143-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12143-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, particle number size distribution data were used in a novel way in positive matrix factorization analysis to find aerosol source profiles in the area. Measurements were made in Helsinki at a street canyon and urban background sites between February 2015 and June 2019. Five different aerosol sources were identified. These sources underline the significance of traffic-related emissions in urban environments despite recent improvements in emission reduction technologies.
Natalie G. Ratcliffe, Claire L. Ryder, Nicolas Bellouin, Stephanie Woodward, Anthony Jones, Ben Johnson, Lisa-Maria Wieland, Maximilian Dollner, Josef Gasteiger, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12161–12181, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12161-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12161-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Large mineral dust particles are more abundant in the atmosphere than expected and have different impacts on the environment than small particles, which are better represented in climate models. We use aircraft measurements to assess a climate model representation of large-dust transport. We find that the model underestimates the amount of large dust at all stages of transport and that fast removal of the large particles increases this underestimation with distance from the Sahara.
Sergio Rodríguez and Jessica López-Darias
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12031–12053, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12031-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12031-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Extreme Saharan dust events expanded northward to the Atlantic and Europe, prompting record-breaking PM10 and PM2.5 events. These episodes are caused by low-to-high dipole meteorology during hemispheric anomalies characterized by subtropical anticyclones shifting to higher latitudes, anomalous low pressures beyond the tropics and amplified Rossby waves. Extreme dust events occur in a paradoxical context of a multidecadal decrease in dust emissions, a topic that requires further investigation.
Valeria Mardoñez-Balderrama, Griša Močnik, Marco Pandolfi, Robin L. Modini, Fernando Velarde, Laura Renzi, Angela Marinoni, Jean-Luc Jaffrezo, Isabel Moreno R., Diego Aliaga, Federico Bianchi, Claudia Mohr, Martin Gysel-Beer, Patrick Ginot, Radovan Krejci, Alfred Wiedensohler, Gaëlle Uzu, Marcos Andrade, and Paolo Laj
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12055–12077, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12055-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12055-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Levels of black carbon (BC) are scarcely reported in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in high-altitude conditions. This study provides insight into the concentration level, variability, and optical properties of BC in La Paz and El Alto and at the Chacaltaya Global Atmosphere Watch Station. Two methods of source apportionment of absorption were tested and compared showing traffic as the main contributor to absorption in the urban area, in addition to biomass and open waste burning.
Krishnakant Budhavant, Mohanan Remani Manoj, Hari Ram Chandrika Rajendran Nair, Samuel Mwaniki Gaita, Henry Holmstrand, Abdus Salam, Ahmed Muslim, Sreedharan Krishnakumari Satheesh, and Örjan Gustafsson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11911–11925, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11911-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11911-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The South Asian Pollution Experiment 2018 used access to three strategically located receptor observatories. Observational constraints revealed opposing trends in the mass absorption cross sections of black carbon (BC MAC) and brown carbon (BrC MAC) during long-range transport. Models estimating the climate effects of BC aerosols may have underestimated the ambient BC MAC over distant receptor areas, leading to discrepancies in aerosol absorption predicted by observation-constrained models.
Abigail S. Williams, Jeramy L. Dedrick, Lynn M. Russell, Florian Tornow, Israel Silber, Ann M. Fridlind, Benjamin Swanson, Paul J. DeMott, Paul Zieger, and Radovan Krejci
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11791–11805, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11791-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11791-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The measured aerosol size distribution modes reveal distinct properties characteristic of cold-air outbreaks in the Norwegian Arctic. We find higher sea spray number concentrations, smaller Hoppel minima, lower effective supersaturations, and accumulation-mode particle scavenging during cold-air outbreaks. These results advance our understanding of cold-air outbreak aerosol–cloud interactions in order to improve their accurate representation in models.
Franziska Vogel, Michael P. Adams, Larissa Lacher, Polly B. Foster, Grace C. E. Porter, Barbara Bertozzi, Kristina Höhler, Julia Schneider, Tobias Schorr, Nsikanabasi S. Umo, Jens Nadolny, Zoé Brasseur, Paavo Heikkilä, Erik S. Thomson, Nicole Büttner, Martin I. Daily, Romy Fösig, Alexander D. Harrison, Jorma Keskinen, Ulrike Proske, Jonathan Duplissy, Markku Kulmala, Tuukka Petäjä, Ottmar Möhler, and Benjamin J. Murray
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11737–11757, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11737-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11737-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Primary ice formation in clouds strongly influences their properties; hence, it is important to understand the sources of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) and their variability. We present 2 months of INP measurements in a Finnish boreal forest using a new semi-autonomous INP counting device based on gas expansion. These results show strong variability in INP concentrations, and we present a case that the INPs we observe are, at least some of the time, of biological origin.
Rebecca Dischl, Daniel Sauer, Christiane Voigt, Theresa Harlaß, Felicitas Sakellariou, Raphael Märkl, Ulrich Schumann, Monika Scheibe, Stefan Kaufmann, Anke Roiger, Andreas Dörnbrack, Charles Renard, Maxime Gauthier, Peter Swann, Paul Madden, Darren Luff, Mark Johnson, Denise Ahrens, Reetu Sallinen, Tobias Schripp, Georg Eckel, Uwe Bauder, and Patrick Le Clercq
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11255–11273, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11255-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11255-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In-flight measurements of aircraft emissions burning 100 % sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) show reduced particle number concentrations up to 41 % compared to conventional jet fuel. Particle emissions are dependent on engine power setting, flight altitude, and fuel composition. Engine models show a good correlation with measurement results. Future increased prevalence of SAF can positively influence the climate impact of aviation.
Zoé Brasseur, Julia Schneider, Janne Lampilahti, Ville Vakkari, Victoria A. Sinclair, Christina J. Williamson, Carlton Xavier, Dmitri Moisseev, Markus Hartmann, Pyry Poutanen, Markus Lampimäki, Markku Kulmala, Tuukka Petäjä, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Erik S. Thomson, Kristina Höhler, Ottmar Möhler, and Jonathan Duplissy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11305–11332, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11305-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11305-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) strongly influence the formation of clouds by initiating the formation of ice crystals. However, very little is known about the vertical distribution of INPs in the atmosphere. Here, we present aircraft measurements of INP concentrations above the Finnish boreal forest. Results show that near-surface INPs are efficiently transported and mixed within the boundary layer and occasionally reach the free troposphere.
Piotr Markuszewski, E. Douglas Nilsson, Julika Zinke, E. Monica Mårtensson, Matthew Salter, Przemysław Makuch, Małgorzata Kitowska, Iwona Niedźwiecka-Wróbel, Violetta Drozdowska, Dominik Lis, Tomasz Petelski, Luca Ferrero, and Jacek Piskozub
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11227–11253, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11227-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11227-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research provides new insights into the study of sea spray aerosol (SSA) emissions in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic. We observed that SSA flux is suppressed during increased marine biological activity in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, the influence of wave age showed higher SSA emissions in the Baltic Sea for younger waves compared to the Atlantic Ocean. These insights underscore the complex interplay between biological activity and physical dynamics in regulating SSA emissions.
Heather Guy, Andrew S. Martin, Erik Olson, Ian M. Brooks, and Ryan R. Neely III
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11103–11114, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11103-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11103-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol particles impact cloud properties which influence Greenland Ice Sheet melt. Understanding the aerosol population that interacts with clouds is important for constraining future melt. Measurements of aerosols at cloud height over Greenland are rare, and surface measurements are often used to investigate cloud–aerosol interactions. We use a tethered balloon to measure aerosols up to cloud base and show that surface measurements are often not equivalent to those just below the cloud.
Kouji Adachi, Jack E. Dibb, Joseph M. Katich, Joshua P. Schwarz, Hongyu Guo, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Jose L. Jimenez, Jeff Peischl, Christopher D. Holmes, and James Crawford
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10985–11004, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10985-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10985-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We examined aerosol particles from wildfires and identified tarballs (TBs) from the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) campaign. This study reveals the compositions, abundance, sizes, and mixing states of TBs and shows that TBs formed as the smoke aged for up to 5 h. This study provides measurements of TBs from various biomass-burning events and ages, enhancing our knowledge of TB emissions and our understanding of their climate impact.
Jia Sun, Markus Hermann, Kay Weinhold, Maik Merkel, Wolfram Birmili, Yifan Yang, Thomas Tuch, Harald Flentje, Björn Briel, Ludwig Ries, Cedric Couret, Michael Elsasser, Ralf Sohmer, Klaus Wirtz, Frank Meinhardt, Maik Schütze, Olaf Bath, Bryan Hellack, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Markku Kulmala, Nan Ma, and Alfred Wiedensohler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10667–10687, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10667-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10667-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the characteristics of new particle formation (NPF) for various environments from urban background to high Alpine and the impacts of NPF on cloud condensation nuclei and aerosol radiative forcing. NPF features differ between site categories, implying the crucial role of local environmental factors such as the degree of emissions and meteorological conditions. The results also underscore the importance of local environments when assessing the impact of NPF on climate in models.
Baptiste Testa, Lukas Durdina, Jacinta Edebeli, Curdin Spirig, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10409–10424, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10409-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10409-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aviation soot residuals released from contrails can become compacted upon sublimation of the ice crystals, generating new voids in the aggregates where ice nucleation can occur. Here we show that contrail-processed soot is highly compact but that it remains unable to form ice at a relative humidity different from that required for the formation of background cirrus from the more ubiquitous aqueous solution droplets, suggesting that it will not perturb cirrus cloud formation via ice nucleation.
Kunfeng Gao, Franziska Vogel, Romanos Foskinis, Stergios Vratolis, Maria I. Gini, Konstantinos Granakis, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Olga Zografou, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Alexis Berne, Alexandros Papayannis, Konstantinos Eleftheridadis, Ottmar Möhler, and Athanasios Nenes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9939–9974, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9939-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9939-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice nucleating particle (INP) concentrations are required for correct predictions of clouds and precipitation in a changing climate, but they are poorly constrained in climate models. We unravel source contributions to INPs in the eastern Mediterranean and find that biological particles are important, regardless of their origin. The parameterizations developed exhibit superior performance and enable models to consider biological-particle effects on INPs.
Alexandra Kuwano, Amato T. Evan, Blake Walkowiak, and Robert Frouin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9843–9868, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9843-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9843-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The dust direct radiative effect is highly uncertain. Here we used new measurements collected over 3 years and during dust storms at a field site in a desert region in the southwestern United States to estimate the regional dust direct radiative effect. We also used novel soil mineralogy retrieved from an airborne spectrometer to estimate this parameter with model output. We find that, in this region, dust has a minimal net cooling effect on this region's climate.
Jutta Kesti, Ewan J. O'Connor, Anne Hirsikko, John Backman, Maria Filioglou, Anu-Maija Sundström, Juha Tonttila, Heikki Lihavainen, Hannele Korhonen, and Eija Asmi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9369–9386, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9369-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9369-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The study combines aerosol particle measurements at the surface and vertical profiling of the atmosphere with a scanning Doppler lidar to investigate how particle transportation together with boundary layer evolution can affect particle and SO2 concentrations at the surface in the Arabian Peninsula region. The instrumentation enabled us to see elevated nucleation mode particle and SO2 concentrations at the surface when air masses transported from polluted areas are mixed in the boundary layer.
Cited articles
Anfossi, D., Oettl, D., Degrazia, G., and Goulart, A.: An analysis of sonic anemometer observations in low wind speed conditions, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 114, 179–203, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-004-1984-4, 2005.
Balsley, B. B., Frehlich, R. G., Jensen, M. L., Meillier, Y., and Muschinski, A.: Extreme gradients in the nocturnal boundary layer: Structure, evolution, and potential causes. J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 2496–2508, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<2496:egitnb>2.0.CO;2, 2003.
Banta, R. M., Pichugina, Y. L., and Newsom, R. K.: Relationship between low-level jet properties and turbulence kinetic energy in the nocturnal stable boundary layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 2549–2555, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<2549:rbljpa>2.0.CO;2, 2003.
Banta, R. M., Pichugina, Y. L., and Brewer, W. A.: Turbulent Velocity-Variance Profiles in the Stable Boundary Layer Generated by a Nocturnal Low-Level Jet, J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 2700–2719, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3776.1, 2006.
Banta, R. M., Mahrt, L., Vickers, D., Sun, J., Balsley, B. B., Pichugina, Y. L., and Williams, E. J.: The very stable boundary layer on nights with weak low-level jets, J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 3068–3090, https://doi.org/10.1175/jas4002.1, 2007.
Basu, S., Foufoula-Georgiou, E., and Porté-Agel, F.: Synthetic turbulence, fractal interpolation, and large-eddy simulation, Phys. Rev. E, 70, 26310, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.026310, 2004.
Bressi, M., Sciare, J., Ghersi, V., Bonnaire, N., Nicolas, J. B., Petit, J. E., Moukhtar, S., Rosso, A., Mihalopoulos, N., and Féron, A.: A one-year comprehensive chemical characterisation of fine aerosol (PM2.5) at urban, suburban and rural background sites in the region of Paris (France), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 7825–7844, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-7825-2013, 2013.
Chan, C. K. and Yao, X.: Air pollution in mega cities in China, Atmos. Environ., 42, 1–42, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.003, 2008.
Cohen, L.: Time-frequency analysis, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 153–161, 1995.
Derbyshire, S. H.: Boundary-layer decoupling over cold surfaces as a physical boundary-instability, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 90, 297–325, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001710014316, 1999.
Dominici, F., Greenstone, M., and Sunstein, C. R.: Particulate Matter Matters, Science, 344, 257–259, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247348, 2014.
Engelhart, G. J., Hildebrandt, L., Kostenidou, E., Mihalopoulos, N., Donahue, N. M., and Pandis, S. N.: Water content of aged aerosol, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 911–920, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-911-2011, 2011.
Faust, J. A., Wong, J. P. S., Lee, A. K. Y., and Abbatt, J. P.: Role of Aerosol Liquid Water in Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Volatile Organic Compounds, Environ. Sci. Techmol., 51, 1405–1413, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04700, 2017.
Frisch, U.: Fully developed turbulence and intermittency, Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 357, 359–367, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb29703.x, 1980.
Frisch, U.: Turbulence: the legacy of AN Kolmogorov, Cambridge University Press, UK, 72–97, 1995.
Gao, S., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Zhou, Q., Lu, Z., Shi, X., and Liu, Y.: Spatial statistics of atmospheric particulate matter in China, Atmos. Environ., 134, 162–167, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.03.052, 2016.
Ha, K. J., Hyun, Y. K., Oh, H. M., Kim, K. E., and Mahrt, L.: Evaluation of boundary layer similarity theory for stable conditions in CASES-99, Mon. Weather Rev., 135, 3474–3483, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00119423, 2007.
Helgason, W. and Pomeroy, J. W.: Characteristics of the near-surface boundary layer within a mountain valley during winter, J. Appl. Meteorol. Climatol., 51, 583–597, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-11-058.1, 2012.
Holtslag, A. A. M.: BOUNDARY LAYER (ATMOSPHERIC) AND AIR POLLUTION – Modeling and Parameterization, in: Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences, 1, 265–273, Elsevier, Netherlands, 2015.
Huang, N., Shen, Z., Long, S., Wu, M., Shih, H., Zheng, Q., Yen, N., Tung, C., and Liu, H.: The empirical mode decomposition and the Hilbert spectrum for nonlinear and non-stationary time series analysis, P. R. Soc. A, 454, 903–995, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1998.0193, 1998.
Huang, N. E., Shen, Z., and Long, S. R.: A new view of nonlinear water waves: the Hilbert Spectrum, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 31, 417–457, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fluid.31.1.417, 1999.
Huang, Y., Schmitt, F. G., Lu, Z., and Liu, Y.: Analysis of daily river flow fluctuations using empirical mode decomposition and arbitrary order Hilbert spectral analysis, J. Hydrol., 373, 103–111, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.04.015, 2009.
Huang, Y. X., Schmitt, F. G., Lu, Z. M., and Liu, Y. L.: An amplitude-frequency study of turbulent scaling intermittency using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Hilbert Spectral Analysis, Europhys. Lett., 84, 40010, https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/84/40010, 2008.
Huang, Y. X., Schmitt, F. G., Hermand, J. P., Gagne, Y., Lu, Z. M., and Liu, Y. L.: Arbitrary-order Hilbert spectral analysis for time series possessing scaling statistics: Comparison study with detrended fluctuation analysis and wavelet leaders, Phys. Rev. E, 84, 16208, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.016208, 2011.
Jiang, C., Wang, H., Zhao, T., Li, T., and Che, H.: Modeling study of PM2.5 pollutant transport across cities in China's Jing-Jin-Ji region during a severe haze episode in December 2013, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 5803–5814, https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-15-3745-2015, 2015.
Karipot, A., Leclerc, M. Y., Zhang, G., Lewin, K. F., Nagy, J., Hendrey, G. R., and Starr, G.: Influence of nocturnal low-level jet on turbulence structure and CO2 flux measurements over a forest canopy, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 113, D10102, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009149, 2008.
Klipp, C. L. and Mahrt, L.: Flux-gradient relationship, self-correlation and intermittency in the stable boundary layer, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 130, 2087–2103, https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.03.161, 2004.
Lundquist, J. K.: Intermittent and Elliptical Inertial Oscillations in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 2661–2673, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<2661:IAEIOI>2.0.CO;2, 2003.
Mahrt, L.: Nocturnal Boundary-Layer Regimes, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 88, 255–278, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001171313493, 1998.
Mahrt, L.: Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 90, 375–396, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001765727956, 1999.
Mahrt, L.: Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 46, 23–45, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-010313-141354, 2014.
Mahrt, L. and Vickers, D.: Contrasting vertical structures of nocturnal boundary layers, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 105, 351–363, https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1019964720989, 2002.
Miao, Y., Guo, J., Liu, S., Liu, H., Zhang, G., Yan, Y., and He, J.: Relay transport of aerosols to Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by multi-scale atmospheric circulations, Atmos. Environ., 165, 35–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.06.032, 2017.
Nel, A.: ATMOSPHERE: Enhanced: Air Pollution-Related Illness: Effects of Particles, Science, 308, 804–806, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1108752, 2005.
Noone, D., Risi, C., Bailey, A., Berkelhammer, M., Brown, D. P., Buenning, N., Gregory, S., Nusbaumer, J., Schneider, D., Sykes, J., Vanderwende, B., Wong, J., Meillier, Y., and Wolfe, D.: Determining water sources in the boundary layer from tall tower profiles of water vapor and surface water isotope ratios after a snowstorm in Colorado, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 1607–1623, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1607-2013, 2013.
Parish, T. R.: Forcing of the Summertime Low-Level Jet along the California Coast, J. Appl. Meteorol., 39, 2421–2433, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(2000)039<2421:FOTSLL>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Petäjä, T., Järvi, L., Kerminen, V. M., Ding, A. J., Sun, J. N., Nie, W., Kujansuu, J., Virkkula, A., Yang, X., Fu, C. B., Zilitinkevich, S., and Kulmala, M.: Enhanced air pollution via aerosol-boundary layer feedback in China, Sci. Rep., 6, 18998, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep18998, 2016.
Petters, M. D. and Kreidenweis, S. M.: A single parameter representation of hygroscopic growth and cloud condensation nucleus activity – Part 2: Including solubility, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 6273–6279, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-6273-2008, 2008.
Poulos, G. S., Blumen, W., Fritts, D. C., Lundquist, J. K., Sun, J., Burns, S. P., Nappo, C., Banta, R., Newsom, R., Cuxart, J., Terradellas, E., Balsley, B., and Jensen, M.: CASES-99: A comprehensive investigation of the stable nocturnal boundary layer, B. Am. Meteor. Soc., 83, 555–581, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(2002)083<0555:CACIOT>2.3.CO;2, 2002.
Quan, J., Liu, Q., Li, X., Gao, Y., Jia, X., Sheng, J., and Liu, Y.: Effect of heterogeneous aqueous reactions on the secondary formation of inorganic aerosols during haze events, Atmos. Environ., 122, 306–312, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.09.068, 2015.
Ren, Y., Zheng, H., Wei, W., Wu, B., Zhang, H., Cai, X., and Song, Y.: Characteristics of the Turbulent Transfer during the Heavy Haze in Winter 2016/17 in Beijing, J. Meteorol. Res., 32, 69–80, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-018-7072-3, 2017.
Salmond, J. A.: Wavelet analysis of intermittent turbulence in a very stable nocturnal boundary layer: implications for the vertical mixing of ozone, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 114, 463–488, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-004-2422-3, 2005.
Schmitt, F. G., Huang, Y., Lu, Z., Liu, Y., and Fernandez, N.: Analysis of velocity fluctuations and their intermittency properties in the surf zone using empirical mode decomposition, J. Mar. Syst., 77, 473–481, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.11.012, 2009.
Shen, Z., Cui, G., and Zhang, Z.: Turbulent dispersion of pollutants in urban-type canopies under stable stratification conditions, Atmos. Environ., 156, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.02.017, 2017.
Smedman, A. S., Bergström, H., and Högström, U.: Spectra, variances and length scales in a marine stable boundary layer dominated by a low level jet, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 76, 211–232, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709352, 1995.
Sorbjan, Z. and Czerwinska, A.: Statistics of Turbulence in the Stable Boundary Layer Affected by Gravity Waves, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 148, 73–91, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-013-9809-y, 2013.
Strang, E. J. and Fernado, H. J. S.: Entrainment and mixing in stratified shear flows, J. Fluid Mech., 428, 349–386, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112000002706, 2001.
Stull, R. B.: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Academic, USA, 666, 1988.
Sun, J., Mahrt, L., Banta, R. M., and Pichugina, Y. L.: Turbulence regimes and turbulence intermittency in the stable boundary layer during CASES-99, J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 338–351, https://doi.org/10.1175/jas-d-11-082.1, 2012.
Sun, J., Mahrt, L., Nappo, C., and Lenschow, D. H.: Wind and Temperature Oscillations Generated by Wave–Turbulence Interactions in the Stably Stratified Boundary Layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 72, 1484–1503, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-14-0129.1, 2015.
Sun, Y., Zhuang, G., Wang, Y., Han, L., Guo, J., Dan, M., Zhang, W., Wang, Z., and Hao, Z.: The air-borne particulate pollution in Beijing – Concentration, composition, distribution and sources, Atmos. Environ., 38, 5991–6004, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.07.009, 2004.
Tang, G., Zhang, J., Zhu, X., Song, T., Münkel, C., Hu, B., Schäfer, K., Liu, Z., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Xin, J., Suppan, P., and Wang, Y.: Mixing layer height and its implications for air pollution over Beijing, China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 2459–2475, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2459-2016, 2016.
Terradellas, E., Soler, M. R., Ferreres, E., and Bravo, M.: Analysis of oscillations in the stable atmospheric boundary layer using wavelet methods, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 114, 489–518, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-004-1293-y, 2005.
Thompson, T. M., Saari, R. K., and Selin, N. E.: Air quality resolution for health impact assessment: Influence of regional characteristics, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 969–978, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-969-2014, 2014.
Vindel, J. M. and Yagüe, C.: Intermittency of Turbulence in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Scaling Exponents and Stratification Influence, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 140, 73–85, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-011-9597-1, 2011.
Vindel, J. M., Yagüe, C., and Redondo, J. M.: Structure function analysis and intermittency in the atmospheric boundary layer, Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 15, 915–929, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-15-915-2008, 2008.
Wang, T., Nie, W., Gao, J., Xue, L. K., Gao, X. M., Wang, X. F., Qiu, J., Poon, C. N., Meinardi, S., Blake, D., Wang, S. L., Ding, A. J., Chai, F. H., Zhang, Q. Z., and Wang, W. X.: Air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympics: Secondary pollutants and regional impact, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 7603–7615, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-7603-2010, 2010.
Wang, X., Wang, W., Yang, L., Gao, X., Nie, W., Yu, Y., Xu, P., Zhou, Y., and Wang, Z.: The secondary formation of inorganic aerosols in the droplet mode through heterogeneous aqueous reactions under haze conditions, Atmos. Environ., 63, 68–76, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.09.029, 2012.
Wang, X., Dickinson, R. E., Su, L., Zhou, C., and Wang, K.: PM2.5 Pollution in China and How It Has Been Exacerbated by Terrain and Meteorological Conditions, B. Am. Meteor. Soc., 99, 105–119, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0301.1, 2017.
Wei, W., Zhang, H. S., and Ye, X. X.: Comparison of low-level jets along the north coast of China in summer, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 119, 9692–9706, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD021476, 2014.
Wei, W., Schmitt, F. G., Huang, Y. X., and Zhang, H. S.: The Analyses of Turbulence Characteristics in the Atmospheric Surface Layer Using Arbitrary-Order Hilbert Spectra, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 159, 391–406, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-015-0122-9, 2016.
Wei, W., Wang, M., Zhang, H., He, Q., Ali, M., and Wang, Y.: Diurnal characteristics of turbulent intermittency in the Taklimakan Desert, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys., accepted, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-017-0572-3, 2017.
Van de Wiel, B. J. H., Moene, A. F., Jonker, H. J. J., Baas, P., Basu, S., Donda, J. M. M., Sun, J., and Holtslag, A. A. M.: The Minimum Wind Speed for Sustainable Turbulence in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 3116–3127, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-12-0107.1, 2012.
Van de Wiel, B. J. H., Moene, A. F., Hartogensis, O. K., De Bruin, H. A. R., and Holtslag, A. A. M.: Intermittent Turbulence in the Stable Boundary Layer over Land. Part III: A Classification for Observations during CASES-99, J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 2509–2522, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<2509:ITITSB>2.0.CO;2, 2003.
Ye, X., Wu, B., and Zhang, H.: The turbulent structure and transport in fog layers observed over the Tianjin area, Atmos. Res., 153, 217–234, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.08.003, 2014.
Ye, X., Song, Y., Cai, X., and Zhang, H.: Study on the synoptic flow patterns and boundary layer process of the severe haze events over the North China Plain in January 2013, Atmos. Environ., 124, 129–145, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.06.011, 2016.
Yin, Z. and Wang, H.: Role of atmospheric circulations in haze pollution in December 2016, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 11673–11681, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11673-2017, 2017.
Yin, Z., Wang, H., and Chen, H.: Understanding severe winter haze events in the North China Plain in 2014: Roles of climate anomalies, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 1641–1651, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-1641-2017, 2017.
Zhang, H., Chen, J., and Park, S.: Turbulence structure in unstable conditions over various surfaces, Bound.-Layer Meteorol., 100, 243–261, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019223316895, 2001.
Zhang, H., Wang, S., Hao, J., Wang, X., Wang, S., Chai, F., and Li, M.: Air pollution and control action in Beijing, J. Clean. Prod., 112, 1519–1527, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.092, 2016.
Zhang, J. P., Zhu, T., Zhang, Q. H., Li, C. C., Shu, H. L., Ying, Y., Dai, Z. P., Wang, X., Liu, X. Y., Liang, A. M., Shen, H. X., and Yi, B. Q.: The impact of circulation patterns on regional transport pathways and air quality over Beijing and its surroundings, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 5031–5053, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-5031-2012, 2012.
Zhang, Y.-L. and Cao, F.: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in China at a city level, Sci. Rep., 5, 14884, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14884, 2015.
Zhang, Y., Zhu, B., Gao, J., Kang, H., Yang, P., Wang, L., and Zhang, J: The source apportionment of primary PM2.5 in an aerosol pollution event over Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region using WRF-Chem, China, Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 17, 2966–2980, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2016.10.0442, 2017.
Zheng, B., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Y., He, K. B., Wang, K., Zheng, G. J.,Duan, F. K., Ma, Y. L., and Kimoto, T.: Heterogeneous chemistry: a mechanism missing in current models to explain secondary inorganic aerosol formation during the January 2013 haze episode in North China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 2031–2049, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2031-2015, 2015.
Zheng, G. J., Duan, F. K., Su, H., Ma, Y. L., Cheng, Y., Zheng, B., Zhang, Q., Huang, T., Kimoto, T., Chang, D., Pöschl, U., Cheng, Y. F., and He, K. B.: Exploring the severe winter haze in Beijing: The impact of synoptic weather, regional transport and heterogeneous reactions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 2969–2983, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2969-2015, 2015.
Zheng, S., Pozzer, A., Cao, C. X., and Lelieveld, J.: Long-term (2001–2012) concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the impact on human health in Beijing, China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 5715–5725, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5715-2015, 2015.
Zhong , J., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Sun, J., Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Tan, K., Shen, X., Che, H., Zhang, L., Zhang, Z., Qi, X., Zhao, H., Ren, S., and Li, Y.: Relative contributions of boundary-layer meteorological factors to the explosive growth of PM2.5 during the red-alert heavy pollution episodes in Beijing in December 2016, J. Meteorol. Res., 31, 809–819, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-017-7088-0, 2017.
Short summary
Heavy particulate pollution events have frequently occurred in the North China Plain. Using the intermittency factor, we found that the turbulence during the transport stage is intermittent and not locally generated. Turbulence results from the wind shear of low-level jets and then transports downward, causing intermittent turbulence at lower levels. The intermittent turbulence contributes positively to the vertical dispersion of particulate matter and improves the air quality near the surface.
Heavy particulate pollution events have frequently occurred in the North China Plain. Using the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint