Articles | Volume 23, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3015-2023
© Author(s) 2023. 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-23-3015-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Mar 2023
Research article |
| 07 Mar 2023
| 07 Mar 2023
Characteristics of particulate-bound n-alkanes indicating sources of PM2.5 in Beijing, China
Jiyuan Yang
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Guoyang Lei
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Chang Liu
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Yutong Wu
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Kai Hu
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Jinfeng Zhu
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Junsong Bao
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Weili Lin
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Jun Jin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Beijing Engineering Research Center of Food Environment and Public Health, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Related authors
Jiyuan Yang, Guoyang Lei, Jinfeng Zhu, Yutong Wu, Chang Liu, Kai Hu, Junsong Bao, Zitong Zhang, Weili Lin, and Jun Jin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 123–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-123-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-123-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The atmospheric pollution and formation mechanisms of particulate-bound alkyl nitrate in Beijing were studied. C9–C16 long-chain n-alkyl nitrates negatively correlated with O3 but positively correlated with PM2.5 and NO2, so they may not be produced during gas-phase homogeneous reactions in the photochemical process but form through reactions between alkanes and nitrates on PM surfaces. Particulate-bound n-alkyl nitrates strongly affect both haze pollution and atmospheric visibility.
Gang Zhao, Ping Tian, Chunxiang Ye, Weili Lin, Yicheng Gao, Jie Sun, Yi Chen, Fengjun Shen, and Tong Zhu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3012, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3012, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding aerosol size distribution helps us predict how aerosols move, grow, and interact with the environment and climate. We used "maximum entropy" to demonstrate that the aerosol particle number size distribution would follow the Weibull distribution in the clean atmosphere during the new particle formation and growth process. The observations showed good consistency with the theoretical analysis.
Tiantian Zhang, Peng Zuo, Yi Chen, Tong Liu, Linghan Zeng, Weili Lin, and Chunxiang Ye
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2210, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2210, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, we conducted field observations of N2O5. By comparing pre- and post-Olympic pollutant levels, we evaluated the impact of emission reductions on nocturnal chemistry. The results showed that the reactivity of nitric oxide (NO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with NO3 decreased, and that the heterogeneous uptake of N2O5 played a critical role in nocturnal nitrate formation.
Xiaoyi Zhang, Wanyun Xu, Weili Lin, Gen Zhang, Jinjian Geng, Li Zhou, Huarong Zhao, Sanxue Ren, Guangsheng Zhou, Jianmin Chen, and Xiaobin Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12323–12340, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12323-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12323-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ozone (O3) deposition is a key process that removes surface O3, affecting air quality, ecosystems and climate change. We conducted O3 deposition measurement over a wheat canopy using a newly relaxed eddy accumulation flux system. Large variabilities in O3 deposition were detected, mainly determined by crop growth and modulated by various environmental factors. More O3 deposition observations over different surfaces are needed for exploring deposition mechanisms and model optimization.
Ziru Lan, Xiaoyi Zhang, Weili Lin, Xiaobin Xu, Zhiqiang Ma, Jun Jin, Lingyan Wu, and Yangmei Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9355–9368, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9355-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9355-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study examined the long-term trends of atmospheric ammonia in urban Beijing from 2009 to 2020. We found that the trends did not match satellite data or emission estimates, revealing complexities in ammonia sources. While seasonal variations in ammonia were temperature-dependent, daily variations were correlated with water vapor. We also found an increasing contribution of ammonia reduction, emphasizing its importance in mitigating the effects of fine particulate matter in Beijing.
Shuzheng Guo, Chunxiang Ye, Weili Lin, Yi Chen, Limin Zeng, Xuena Yu, Jinhui Cui, Chong Zhang, Jing Duan, Haobin Zhong, Rujin Huang, Xuguang Chi, Wei Nie, and Aijun Ding
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-262, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-262, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
@Tibet field campaigns 2021 discovered surprisingly high levels and activity contributions of oxygenated volatile organic compounds on the southeast of the Tibetan Plateau, which suggests that OVOCs may play a larger role in the chemical reactions that occur in high-altitude regions than previously thought.
Jiyuan Yang, Guoyang Lei, Jinfeng Zhu, Yutong Wu, Chang Liu, Kai Hu, Junsong Bao, Zitong Zhang, Weili Lin, and Jun Jin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 123–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-123-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-123-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The atmospheric pollution and formation mechanisms of particulate-bound alkyl nitrate in Beijing were studied. C9–C16 long-chain n-alkyl nitrates negatively correlated with O3 but positively correlated with PM2.5 and NO2, so they may not be produced during gas-phase homogeneous reactions in the photochemical process but form through reactions between alkanes and nitrates on PM surfaces. Particulate-bound n-alkyl nitrates strongly affect both haze pollution and atmospheric visibility.
Chunxiang Ye, Shuzheng Guo, Weili Lin, Fangjie Tian, Jianshu Wang, Chong Zhang, Suzhen Chi, Yi Chen, Yingjie Zhang, Limin Zeng, Xin Li, Duo Bu, Jiacheng Zhou, and Weixiong Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10383–10397, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10383-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10383-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Online volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, with other O3 precursors, were used to identify key VOC and other key sources in Lhasa. Total VOCs (TVOCs), alkanes, and aromatics are half as abundant as in Beijing. Oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) consist of 52 % of the TVOCs. Alkenes and OVOCs account for 80 % of the ozone formation potential. Aromatics dominate secondary organic aerosol potential. Positive matrix factorization decomposed residential sources.
Yaru Wang, Yi Chen, Suzhen Chi, Jianshu Wang, Chong Zhang, Weixiong Zhao, Weili Lin, and Chunxiang Ye
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-192, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-192, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We reported an optimized system (Mea-OPR) for direct measurement of ozone production rate, which showed a precise, sensitive and reliable measurement of OPR for at least urban and suburban atmosphere, and active O3 photochemical production in winter Beijing. Herein, the Mea-OPR system also shows its potential in exploring the fundamental O3 photochemistry, i.e., surprisingly high ozone production even under high-NOx conditions.
Wanyun Xu, Yuxuan Bian, Weili Lin, Yingjie Zhang, Yaru Wang, Zhiqiang Ma, Xiaoyi Zhang, Gen Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, and Xiaobin Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7635–7652, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7635-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7635-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone (O3) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) are both photochemical pollutants harmful to the ecological environment and human health, especially in the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the factors determining their variations in the TP have not been comprehensively investigated. Results from field measurements and observation-based models revealed that day-to-day variations in O3 and PAN were in fact controlled by distinct physiochemical processes.
Xueli Liu, Liang Ran, Weili Lin, Xiaobin Xu, Zhiqiang Ma, Fan Dong, Di He, Liyan Zhou, Qingfeng Shi, and Yao Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7071–7085, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7071-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7071-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Significant decreases in annual mean NOx from 2011 to 2016 and SO2 from 2008 to 2016 confirm the effectiveness of relevant control measures on the reduction in NOx and SO2 emissions in the North China Plain (NCP). NOx at SDZ had a weaker influence than SO2 on the emission reduction in Beijing and other areas in the NCP. An increase in the number of motor vehicles and weak traffic restrictions have caused vehicle emissions of NOx, which indicates that NOx emission control should be strengthened.
Qingqing Yin, Qianli Ma, Weili Lin, Xiaobin Xu, and Jie Yao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1015–1033, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1015-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1015-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
China has been experiencing rapid changes in emissions of air pollutants in recent decades. NOx and SO2 measurements from 2006 to 2016 at the Lin’an World Meteorological Organization Global Atmospheric Watch station were used to characterize the seasonal and diurnal variations and study the long-term trends. This study reaffirms China’s success in controlling both NOx and SO2 in the Yangtze River Delta but indicates at the same time a necessity to strengthen the NOx emission control.
Ziru Lan, Weili Lin, Weiwei Pu, and Zhiqiang Ma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 4561–4573, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4561-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4561-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Haze related to particulate matter has become a big problem in eastern China, and ammonia (NH3) plays an important role in secondary particulate matter formation. In this work, variations in the NH3 mixing ratio showed that the contributions of NH3 sources and sinks in urban and suburban areas were quite different, although the areas were under the influence of similar weather systems. This study furthers the understanding of the behavior of NH3 in a megacity environment.
Weili Lin, Feng Wang, Chunxiang Ye, and Tong Zhu
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-32, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-32, 2021
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
Field observations found that released NOx on the glacier surface of the Tibetan Plateau, an important snow-covered region in the northern mid-latitudes, had a higher concentration than in Antarctic and Arctic regions. Such evidence, and such high fluxes as observed here on the Tibetan plateau is novel. That such high concentrations of nitrogen oxides can be found in remote areas is interesting and important for the oxidative budget of the boundary layer.
Yijing Chen, Qianli Ma, Weili Lin, Xiaobin Xu, Jie Yao, and Wei Gao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 15969–15982, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15969-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15969-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
CO is one of the major air pollutants. Our study showed that the long-term CO levels at a background station in one of the most developed areas of China decreased significantly and verified that this downward trend was attributed to the decrease in anthropogenic emissions, which indicated that the adopted pollution control policies were effective. Also, this decrease has an implication for the atmospheric chemistry considering the negative correlation between CO levels and OH radical's lifetime.
Wanyun Xu, Ye Kuang, Chunsheng Zhao, Jiangchuan Tao, Gang Zhao, Yuxuan Bian, Wen Yang, Yingli Yu, Chuanyang Shen, Linlin Liang, Gen Zhang, Weili Lin, and Xiaobin Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 10557–10570, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10557-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10557-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The study of HONO, the primary source of OH radicals, is crucial for atmospheric photochemistry and heterogeneous chemistry. Heterogeneous NO2 conversion was shown to be one of the missing sources of HONO on the North China Plain, but the reaction path is still under debate. In this work, evidence was found that NH3 was the key factor that promoted the hydrolysis of NO2, leading to the explosive growth of HONO and nitrate, suggesting that NH3 emission control measures are urgently needed.
Ruijing Ni, Jintai Lin, Yingying Yan, and Weili Lin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 11447–11469, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11447-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-11447-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
By integrating several modeling methods, we find considerable contributions of foreign anthropogenic emissions to surface ozone over China (2–11 ppb). For anthropogenic ozone over China, the foreign contribution is 40–50 % below 2 km and 85 % in the upper troposphere. For total foreign anthropogenic ozone over China, the portion of transboundary ozone produced within foreign emission source regions is less than 50 %, with the rest produced by precursors transported out of those source regions.
Xiaobin Xu, Hualong Zhang, Weili Lin, Ying Wang, Wanyun Xu, and Shihui Jia
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 5199–5217, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5199-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-5199-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first simultaneous PAN and O3 measurements from the central Tibetan Plateau. Both gases showed unique diurnal cycles with steep rises in the early morning and broader daytime platforms, which is attributed to the PBL evolution. Some high PAN and O3 episodes were observed and caused either by long-range transport of pollutants from south Asia or by downward transport of air masses from the upper troposphere, indicating the dynamic impacts on tropospheric chemistry over the Tibet.
Wanyun Xu, Xiaobin Xu, Meiyun Lin, Weili Lin, David Tarasick, Jie Tang, Jianzhong Ma, and Xiangdong Zheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 773–798, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-773-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-773-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The impact of anthropogenic emissions and climate variability on the long-term trends and periodicity of surface ozone measured at Mt Waliguan (WLG) for the period of 1994–2013 is studied. STT ozone and rising emissions in eastern China contribute to spring and autumnal increasing trends, respectively. The 2–3-, 3–7-, and 11-year periodicities in the ozone data are linked to the QBO, EASMI, and sunspot cycle, respectively. An empirical model is obtained for normalised monthly ozone at WLG.
Zhaoyang Meng, Xiaobin Xu, Weili Lin, Baozhu Ge, Yulin Xie, Bo Song, Shihui Jia, Rui Zhang, Wei Peng, Ying Wang, Hongbing Cheng, Wen Yang, and Huarong Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 167–184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-167-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-167-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents simultaneous measurements of NH3, other trace gases, and water-soluble ions in PM2.5 from May to September 2013 at a rural site in the North China Plain. Atmospheric ammonia and related parameters are characterised and the impact of ammonia on formation of secondary aerosols is investigated. The results presented in this paper may improve our understanding of the role of ammonia in aerosol formation.
Rui Wang, Xiaobin Xu, Shihui Jia, Ruisheng Ma, Liang Ran, Zhaoze Deng, Weili Lin, Ying Wang, and Zhiqiang Ma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 3891–3903, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-3891-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-3891-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Knowledge about the vertical distributions of air pollutants is limited. We present first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observations of vertical profiles of O3 and size-resolved aerosol number concentrations over a rural site in the North China Plain. We show the determination of mixed and residual layer depth and characterization of diurnal O3 and aerosol number concentrations in the mixed and residual layer. We confirm a rapid increase of O3 in the lower troposphere during the recent decade.
Yingruo Li, Chunxiang Ye, Jun Liu, Yi Zhu, Junxia Wang, Ziqiang Tan, Weili Lin, Limin Zeng, and Tong Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 14265–14283, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14265-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14265-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We developed the surface flux intensity calculation method based on 2-year continuous ground measurement at a cross-boundary site between Beijing and the NCP to investigate the surface regional transport. The long-term and multispecies observation demonstrated the regional transport influence of the megacity Beijing and the NCP on Yufa. Our study has a direct implication in air quality control measures implemented in Beijing and its surrounding areas.
Liang Ran, Zhaoze Deng, Xiaobin Xu, Peng Yan, Weili Lin, Ying Wang, Ping Tian, Pucai Wang, Weilin Pan, and Daren Lu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 10441–10454, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-10441-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-10441-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Vertical profiles of black carbon within 1 km above the ground were measured using a micro-aethalometer attached to a tethered balloon during the VOGA field campaign in summer 2014 at a semirural site in the North China Plain. The diurnal cycle of black carbon vertical distributions following the development of the mixing layer was analyzed for a selected dataset of 67 profiles.
Wanyun Xu, Weili Lin, Xiaobin Xu, Jie Tang, Jianqing Huang, Hao Wu, and Xiaochun Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 6191–6205, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6191-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6191-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term characteristics and trends of baseline surface ozone concentration at Waliguan station in western China for the period of 1994 to 2013 were analysed, using a modified Mann–Kendall test and the Hilbert–Huang transform analysis for the trend and periodicity analysis, respectively. Significant increasing trends were detected in all seasons, except for summer. The non-linearity caused by the interannual variation of ozone concentrations is evident, showing a 2–4-year, 7- and 11-year periodicity.
Zhiqiang Ma, Jing Xu, Weijun Quan, Ziyin Zhang, Weili Lin, and Xiaobin Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 3969–3977, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3969-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-3969-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we find that the daily maximum 8 h O3 in the eastern China has undergone a significant increase during 2003–2015, with a rate of 1.1 ppb per year. The increase of surface ozone was mainly induced by the emission changes and the meteorological factors just played a tiny negative influence. Our result also indicates that VOCs seem to play more important role in the ozone increase than the effect of NO titration.
L. Ran, W. L. Lin, Y. Z. Deji, B. La, P. M. Tsering, X. B. Xu, and W. Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 10721–10730, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10721-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10721-2014, 2014
W. Y. Xu, C. S. Zhao, L. Ran, W. L. Lin, P. Yan, and X. B. Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 7757–7768, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7757-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7757-2014, 2014
H. Zhang, X. Xu, W. Lin, and Y. Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-12-31871-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/acpd-12-31871-2012, 2012
Revised manuscript not accepted
Related subject area
Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Field Measurements | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Chemistry (chemical composition and reactions)
Advances in characterization of black carbon particles and their associated coatings using the soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer in Singapore, a complex city environment
Iron isotopes suggest significant aerosol dissolution over the Pacific Ocean
Enrichment of organic nitrogen in fog residuals observed in the Italian Po Valley
Asian dust transport of proteinaceous matter from the Gobi Desert to northern China
Machine-learning-assisted chemical characterization and optical properties of atmospheric brown carbon in Nanjing, China
Technical note: Reconstructing missing surface aerosol elemental carbon data in long-term series with ensemble learning
Enhanced emission of intermediate-volatility/semi-volatile organic matter in gas and particle phases from ship exhausts with low-sulfur fuels
Measurement report: Crustal materials play an increasing role in elevating particle pH – insights from 12-year records in a typical inland city of China
Significant contributions of biomass burning to PM2.5-bound aromatic compounds: insights from field observations and quantum chemical calculations
Measurement report: In-depth characterization of ship emissions during operations in a Mediterranean port
Direct measurement of N2O5 heterogeneous uptake coefficients on atmospheric aerosols in southwestern China and evaluation of current parameterizations
Measurement report: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in particulate matter (PM10) from activated sludge aeration
African dust transported to Barbados in the wintertime lacks indicators of chemical aging
A 60-year atmospheric nitrate isotope record from a southeastern Greenland ice core with minimal postdepositional alteration
Measurement report: Characterization of aerosol hygroscopicity over Southeast Asia during the NASA CAMP2Ex campaign
Individual particle compositions and aerosol mixing states at different altitudes over the ocean in East Asia
Molecular characterization of organic aerosols in urban and forested areas of Paris using high-resolution mass spectrometry
Measurement report: Wintertime aerosol characterization at an urban traffic site in Helsinki, Finland
Source apportionment and ecotoxicity of PM2.5 pollution events in a major Southern Hemisphere megacity: influence of a biofuel-impacted fleet and biomass burning
The impacts of pollution sources and temperature on the light absorption of HULIS were revealed by UHPLC-HRMS/MS at the molecular structure level
Effects of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Biogenic Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation in the Atmosphere of Mt. Hua, China
Marine organic aerosol at Mace Head: effects from phytoplankton and source region variability
Elemental composition, iron mineralogy and solubility of anthropogenic and natural mineral dust aerosols in Namibia: a case study analysis from the AEROCLO-sA campaign
Fossil-Dominated SOA Formation in Coastal China: Size-Divergent Pathways of Aqueous Fenton Reactions versus Gas-phase VOC Autoxidation
Measurement report: Sources and meteorology influencing highly time-resolved PM2.5 trace elements at three urban sites in the extremely polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain in India
Formation of highly absorptive secondary brown carbon through nighttime multiphase chemistry of biomass burning emissions
Hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) Formation under Urban and Marine Atmosphere: role of aerosol ionic strength
Measurement report: Vertically resolved atmospheric properties observed over the Southern Great Plains with the ArcticShark uncrewed aerial system
Technical note: Towards a stronger observational support for haze pollution control by interpreting carbonaceous aerosol results derived from different measurement approaches
Non-biogenic sources are an important but overlooked contributor to aerosol isoprene-derived organosulfates during winter in northern China
Unveiling single-particle composition, size, shape, and mixing state of freshly emitted Icelandic dust via electron microscopy analysis
The Critical Role of Volatile Organic Compounds Emission in Nitrate Formation in Lhasa, Tibetan Plateau: Insights from Oxygen Isotope Anomaly Measurements
The critical role of aqueous-phase processes in aromatic-derived nitrogen-containing organic aerosol formation in cities with different energy consumption patterns
Characterization of atmospheric water-soluble brown carbon in the Athabasca oil sands region, Canada
Sensitivity of aerosol and cloud properties to coupling strength of marine boundary layer clouds over the northwest Atlantic
Measurement Report: Molecular composition, sources, and evolution of atmospheric organic aerosols in a basin city in China
Burning conditions and transportation pathways determine biomass-burning aerosol properties in the Ascension Island marine boundary layer
Observations of high-time-resolution and size-resolved aerosol chemical composition and microphysics in the central Arctic: implications for climate-relevant particle properties
Measurement report: Brown carbon aerosol in rural Germany – sources, chemistry, and diurnal variations
Particle flux-gradient relationships in the high Arctic: Emission and deposition patterns across three surface types
Climatology of aerosol pH and its controlling factors at the Melpitz continental background site in central Europe
Atmospheric chemistry in East Asia determines the iron solubility of aerosol particles supplied to the North Pacific Ocean
Measurement Report: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated (RPAHs), nitrated (NPAHs) and oxygenated (OPAHs) derivatives in the global marine atmosphere: occurrence, spatial variations, and source apportionment
Multiple eco-regions contribute to the seasonal cycle of Antarctic aerosol size distributions
Seasonal investigation of ultrafine-particle organic composition in an eastern Amazonian rainforest
Characterizing lead-rich particles in Beijing's atmosphere following coal-to-gas conversion: Insights from single particle aerosol mass spectrometry
Contrasting solubility and speciation of metal ions in total suspended particulate matter and fog from the coast of Namibia
Significant secondary formation of nitrogenous organic aerosols in an urban atmosphere revealed by bihourly measurements of bulk organic nitrogen and comprehensive molecular markers
High-resolution analyses of concentrations and sizes of refractory black carbon particles deposited in northwestern Greenland over the past 350 years – Part 2: Seasonal and temporal trends in refractory black carbon originated from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning
Carbonate content and stable isotopic composition of aerosol carbon in the Canadian High Arctic
Mutian Ma, Laura-Hélèna Rivellini, Yichen Zong, Markus Kraft, Liya E. Yu, and Alex King Yin Lee
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8185–8211, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8185-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8185-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work advances our understanding of the emission and atmospheric evolution of black carbon (BC) particles in Singapore, a complex urban environment impacted by multiple local and regional combustion sources, based on the improved source apportionment analysis of real-time aerosol mass spectrometry measurement.
Capucine Camin, François Lacan, Catherine Pradoux, Marie Labatut, Anne Johansen, and James W. Murray
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8213–8228, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8213-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8213-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents the chemical and iron isotopic composition of aerosols (> 1 µm) over the equatorial and tropical Pacific Ocean in previously undocumented areas. Analysis of our data suggests that a significant proportion of aerosol iron (∼ 13 %) is not only dissolved but also removed during atmospheric transport. Such removal had not previously been evidenced to our knowledge. This highlights the unique and strong constraints brought by iron isotopes on atmospheric process studies.
Fredrik Mattsson, Almuth Neuberger, Liine Heikkinen, Yvette Gramlich, Marco Paglione, Matteo Rinaldi, Stefano Decesari, Paul Zieger, Ilona Riipinen, and Claudia Mohr
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7973–7989, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7973-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7973-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigated aerosol–cloud interactions, focusing on organic nitrogen (ON) formation in the aqueous phase. Measurements were conducted in wintertime in the Po Valley, Italy, using aerosol mass spectrometry. The fog was enriched in more hygroscopic inorganic compounds and ON, containing, e.g., imidazoles. The formation of imidazole by aerosol–fog interactions could be confirmed for the first time in atmospheric observations. Findings highlight the role of fog in nitrogen aerosol formation.
Ren-Guo Zhu, Hua-Yun Xiao, Meiju Yin, Hao Xiao, Zhongkui Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Guo Wei, and Cheng Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7699–7718, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7699-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7699-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The concentrations and δ15N isotopic values of CAAs (combined amino acids) in surface soil and plants from the Gobi Desert, as well as in PM2.5 samples from four cities in Northern China, were measured. CAAs transported by Gobi dust were rich in alanine, glycine and glutamic acid. Glycine and leucine in Gobi Desert sources exhibited δ15N depletion by more than 6 ‰ compared to their values in urban PM2.5. Substantial protein-N deposition can be transported by the Gobi Desert to northern China over brief periods.
Yu Huang, Xingru Li, Dan Dan Huang, Ruoyuan Lei, Binhuang Zhou, Yunjiang Zhang, and Xinlei Ge
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7619–7645, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7619-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7619-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work comprises a comprehensive investigation into the chemical and optical properties of brown carbon (BrC) in PM2.5 samples collected in Nanjing, China. In particular, we used a machine learning approach to identify a list of key BrC species, which can be a good reference for future studies. Our findings extend understanding of BrC properties and are valuable to the assessment of BrC's impact on air quality and radiative forcing.
Qingxiao Meng, Yunjiang Zhang, Sheng Zhong, Jie Fang, Lili Tang, Yongcai Rao, Minfeng Zhou, Jian Qiu, Xiaofeng Xu, Jean-Eudes Petit, Olivier Favez, and Xinlei Ge
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7485–7498, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7485-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7485-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a machine-learning-based method to reconstruct missing elemental carbon (EC) data in four Chinese cities from 2013 to 2023. Using machine learning, we filled data gaps and introduced a new approach to analyze EC trends. Our findings reveal a significant decline in EC due to stricter pollution controls, though this slowed after 2020. This study provides a versatile framework for addressing data gaps and supports strategies to reduce urban air pollution and its climate impacts.
Binyu Xiao, Fan Zhang, Zeyu Liu, Yan Zhang, Rui Li, Can Wu, Xinyi Wan, Yi Wang, Yubao Chen, Yong Han, Min Cui, Libo Zhang, Yingjun Chen, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7053–7069, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7053-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7053-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Intermediate-volatility/semi-volatile organic compounds in gas and particle phases from ship exhausts are enhanced due to the switch of fuels from low sulfur to ultra-low sulfur. The findings indicate that optimization is necessary for the forthcoming global implementation of an ultra-low-sulfur oil policy. Besides, we find that organic diagnostic markers of hopanes in conjunction with the ratio of octadecanoic to tetradecanoic could be considered potential tracers for heavy fuel oil exhausts.
Hongyu Zhang, Shenbo Wang, Zhangsen Dong, Xiao Li, and Ruiqin Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6943–6955, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6943-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6943-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Analyzing 12-year Zhengzhou data revealed post-2019 crustal material rebound caused by soil dust resuspension, elevating particle pH. Similar coarse particle increases are observed across cities of the North China Plain. Long-term particle acidity evolution in this region requires an integrated assessment of interactions among acidic precursors, ammonia, and crustal components.
Yanqin Ren, Zhenhai Wu, Fang Bi, Hong Li, Haijie Zhang, Junling Li, Rui Gao, Fangyun Long, Zhengyang Liu, Yuanyuan Ji, and Gehui Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6975–6990, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6975-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6975-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The daily concentrations of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs), and nitrated phenols (NPs) in PM2.5 were all increased during the heating season. Biomass burning was identified to be the primary source of these aromatic compounds, particularly for PAHs. Phenol and nitrobenzene are two main primary precursors for 4NP, with phenol showing lower reaction barriers. P-Cresol was identified as the primary precursor for the formation of 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol.
Lise Le Berre, Brice Temime-Roussel, Grazia Maria Lanzafame, Barbara D'Anna, Nicolas Marchand, Stéphane Sauvage, Marvin Dufresne, Liselotte Tinel, Thierry Leonardis, Joel Ferreira de Brito, Alexandre Armengaud, Grégory Gille, Ludovic Lanzi, Romain Bourjot, and Henri Wortham
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6575–6605, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6575-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6575-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A summer campaign in a Mediterranean port examined pollution caused by ships. Two stations in the port measured pollution levels and captured over 350 ship plumes to study their chemical composition. Results showed that pollution levels, such as ultra-fine particles, were higher in the port than in the city and offer strong support to improve emission inventories. These findings may also serve as reference to assess the benefits of a sulfur Emission Control Area in the Mediterranean in 2025.
Jiayin Li, Tianyu Zhai, Xiaorui Chen, Haichao Wang, Shuyang Xie, Shiyi Chen, Chunmeng Li, Yuanjun Gong, Huabin Dong, and Keding Lu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6395–6406, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6395-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6395-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We directly measured the dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) uptake coefficient using an aerosol flow tube, which critically impacts the NOx fate and particulate nitrate formation in a typical highland city, Kunming, in China. We found that the performance of current γ (N2O5) parameterizations showed deviations with the varying aerosol liquid water content (ALWC). Such differences would lead to biased estimation of particulate nitrate production potential. We give suggestions for future research directions.
Jishnu Pandamkulangara Kizhakkethil, Zongbo Shi, Anna Bogush, and Ivan Kourtchev
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5947–5958, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5947-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5947-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Pollution with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has received attention due to their environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, but their sources remain poorly understood. PM10 (particulate matter) collected above a scaled-down activated sludge tank treating domestic sewage in the UK was analysed for a range of short-, medium-, and long-chain PFAS. Eight PFAS were detected in the PM10. Our results suggest that wastewater treatment processes, i.e. activated sludge aeration, could aerosolise PFAS into airborne PM.
Haley M. Royer, Michael T. Sheridan, Hope E. Elliott, Edmund Blades, Nurun Nahar Lata, Zezhen Cheng, Swarup China, Zihua Zhu, Andrew P. Ault, and Cassandra J. Gaston
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5743–5759, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5743-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5743-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Saharan dust transported across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, South America, and North America is hypothesized to undergo chemical processing by acids that enhances cloud droplet formation and nutrient availability. In this study, chemical analysis performed on African dust deposited over Barbados shows that acid tracers are found mostly on sea salt and smoke particles, rather than dust, indicating that dust particles undergo minimal chemical processing.
Zhao Wei, Shohei Hattori, Asuka Tsuruta, Zhuang Jiang, Sakiko Ishino, Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Lei Geng, Alexis Lamothe, Ryu Uemura, Naohiro Yoshida, Joel Savarino, and Yoshinori Iizuka
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5727–5742, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5727-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5727-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrate isotope records in ice cores reveal changes in NOₓ emissions and atmospheric oxidation chemistry driven by human activity. However, UV-driven postdepositional processes can alter nitrate in snow, making snow accumulation rates critical for preserving these records. This study examines nitrate isotopes in a southeastern Greenland ice core, where high snow accumulation minimizes these effects, providing a reliable archive of atmospheric nitrogen cycling.
Genevieve Rose Lorenzo, Luke D. Ziemba, Avelino F. Arellano, Mary C. Barth, Ewan C. Crosbie, Joshua P. DiGangi, Glenn S. Diskin, Richard Ferrare, Miguel Ricardo A. Hilario, Michael A. Shook, Simone Tilmes, Jian Wang, Qian Xiao, Jun Zhang, and Armin Sorooshian
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5469–5495, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5469-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5469-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Novel aerosol hygroscopicity analyses of CAMP2Ex (Cloud, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes Philippines Experiment) field campaign data show low aerosol hygroscopicity values in Southeast Asia. Organic carbon from smoke decreases hygroscopicity to levels more like those in continental than in polluted marine regions. Hygroscopicity changes at cloud level demonstrate how surface particles impact clouds in the region, affecting model representation of aerosol and cloud interactions in similar polluted marine regions with high organic carbon emissions.
Kouji Adachi, Atsushi Yoshida, Tatsuhiro Mori, Nobuhiro Moteki, Sho Ohata, Kazuyuki Kita, Yoshimi Kawai, and Makoto Koike
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2230, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2230, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study measured the compositions and mixing states of individual aerosol particles collected at different altitudes over the western North Pacific by simultaneous sampling from an aircraft and a research vessel. The results showed that they were strongly influenced by Siberian Forest biomass burning and mixed with sea spray, and identified various aerosol compositions at different altitudes, sizes, and aerosol sources, highlighting a wide range of individual particle compositions.
Diana L. Pereira, Chiara Giorio, Aline Gratien, Alexander Zherebker, Gael Noyalet, Servanne Chevaillier, Stéphanie Alage, Elie Almarj, Antonin Bergé, Thomas Bertin, Mathieu Cazaunau, Patrice Coll, Ludovico Di Antonio, Sergio Harb, Johannes Heuser, Cécile Gaimoz, Oscar Guillemant, Brigitte Language, Olivier Lauret, Camilo Macias, Franck Maisonneuve, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault, Raquel Torres, Sylvain Triquet, Pascal Zapf, Lelia Hawkins, Drew Pronovost, Sydney Riley, Pierre-Marie Flaud, Emilie Perraudin, Pauline Pouyes, Eric Villenave, Alexandre Albinet, Olivier Favez, Robin Aujay-Plouzeau, Vincent Michoud, Christopher Cantrell, Manuela Cirtog, Claudia Di Biagio, Jean-François Doussin, and Paola Formenti
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4885–4905, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4885-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4885-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In order to study aerosols in environments influenced by anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, we performed analyses of samples collected during the ACROSS (Atmospheric Chemistry Of the Suburban Forest) campaign in summer 2022 in the greater Paris area. After analysis of the chemical composition by means of total carbon determination and high-resolution mass spectrometry, this work highlights the influence of anthropogenic inputs on the chemical composition of both urban and forested areas.
Kimmo Teinilä, Sanna Saarikoski, Henna Lintusaari, Teemu Lepistö, Petteri Marjanen, Minna Aurela, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Markus Lampimäki, Janne Lampilahti, Luis Barreira, Timo Mäkelä, Leena Kangas, Juha Hatakka, Sami Harni, Joel Kuula, Jarkko V. Niemi, Harri Portin, Jaakko Yli-Ojanperä, Ville Niemelä, Milja Jäppi, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Joonas Vanhanen, Liisa Pirjola, Hanna E. Manninen, Tuukka Petäjä, Topi Rönkkö, and Hilkka Timonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4907–4928, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4907-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Physical and chemical properties of particulate matter and concentrations of trace gases were measured in a street canyon in Helsinki, Finland, and an urban background site in January–February 2022 to investigate the effect of wintertime conditions on pollutants. State-of-the-art instruments and a mobile laboratory were used, and the measurement data were analysed further with modelling tools like positive matrix factorization and the Pollution Detection Algorithm.
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.
Tao Qiu, Yanting Qiu, Yongyi Yuan, Rui Su, Xiangxinyue Meng, Jialiang Ma, Xiaofan Wang, Yu Gu, Zhijun Wu, Yang Ning, Xiuyi Hua, Dapeng Liang, and Deming Dong
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1808, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1808, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our research reveals that some species from biomass burning and coal combustion dominate the light absorption of organic aerosols during winter. Cold weather helps these species accumulate in aerosols by slowing their degradation and altering atmospheric chemical processes. This means colder regions might experience stronger and more persistent climate impacts. Our findings highlight the importance of local temperatures and pollution sources when tackling climate challenges.
Can Wu, Yubao Chen, Yuwei Sun, Huijun Zhang, Si Zhang, Cong Cao, Jianjun Li, and Gehui Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1668, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1668, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA), as an important atmospheric component, is prevalent within the boundary layer and can influence air quality and human health. Our observations demonstrate that anthropogenic NOx and the enhanced aerosol water driven by sulfate inhibit BSOA formation in lifting air masses, leading to a moderate reduction in the SOA burden in the upper boundary layer.
Emmanuel Chevassus, Kirsten N. Fossum, Darius Ceburnis, Lu Lei, Chunshui Lin, Wei Xu, Colin O'Dowd, and Jurgita Ovadnevaite
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4107–4129, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4107-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4107-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the first source apportionment of organic aerosol at Mace Head via high-resolution mass spectrometry. Introducing transfer entropy as a novel method reveals that aged organic aerosol originates from both open-ocean ozonolysis and local peat-burning oxidation. Methanesulfonic acid and organic sea spray both mirror phytoplankton activity, with the former closely tied to coccolithophore blooms and the latter linked to diatoms, chlorophytes, and cyanobacteria.
Paola Formenti, Chiara Giorio, Karine Desboeufs, Alexander Zherebker, Marco Gaetani, Clarissa Baldo, Gautier Landrot, Simona Montebello, Servanne Chevaillier, Sylvain Triquet, Guillaume Siour, Claudia Di Biagio, Francesco Battaglia, Jean-François Doussin, Anais Feron, Andreas Namwoonde, and Stuart John Piketh
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-446, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-446, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The elemental composition and solubility of several metals, including iron, at a coastal site in Namibia in August–September 2017, indicate that natural and anthropogenic dust had different solubility depending on mineralogy but mostly to the processing by fluoride ions from marine emissions, pointing out to the complexity of atmospheric/oceanic interactions in this region of the world influenced by the Benguela current and significant aerosol load.
Jia-Yuan Wang, Meng-Xue Tang, Shan Lu, Ke-Jin Tang, Xing Peng, Ling-Yan He, and Xiao-Feng Huang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1034, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1034, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study explores how secondary organic aerosols (SOA), a major component of air pollution, form in different particle sizes in a coastal city in China. We found that SOA in fine particles is mainly produced through aqueous chemical reactions, especially those involving iron. In contrast, coarse particles form SOA through reactions with ozone and gases from both fossil fuels and natural sources. These findings highlight the need for size-specific air pollution models.
Ashutosh K. Shukla, Sachchida N. Tripathi, Shamitaksha Talukdar, Vishnu Murari, Sreenivas Gaddamidi, Manousos-Ioannis Manousakas, Vipul Lalchandani, Kuldeep Dixit, Vinayak M. Ruge, Peeyush Khare, Mayank Kumar, Vikram Singh, Neeraj Rastogi, Suresh Tiwari, Atul K. Srivastava, Dilip Ganguly, Kaspar Rudolf Daellenbach, and André S. H. Prévôt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3765–3784, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3765-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3765-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study delves into the elemental composition of aerosols at three sites across the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), revealing distinct patterns during pollution episodes. We found significant increases in chlorine (Cl)-rich and solid fuel combustion (SFC) sources, indicating dynamic emission sources, agricultural burning impacts, and meteorological influences. Surges in Cl-rich particles during cold periods highlight their role in particle growth under high-relative-humidity conditions.
Ye Kuang, Biao Luo, Shan Huang, Junwen Liu, Weiwei Hu, Yuwen Peng, Duohong Chen, Dingli Yue, Wanyun Xu, Bin Yuan, and Min Shao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3737–3752, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3737-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3737-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This research reveals the potential importance of nighttime NO3 radical chemistry and aerosol water in the rapid formation of secondary brown carbon from diluted biomass burning emissions. The findings enhance our understanding of nighttime biomass burning evolution and its implications for climate and regional air quality, especially regarding interactions with background aerosol water and water-rich fogs and clouds.
Rongshuang Xu, Yu-Chi Lin, Siyu Bian, Feng Xie, and Yan-Lin Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-683, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-683, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work reported the hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) level in a continental city and, for the first time, in marine atmosphere. The enhancement by aerosol ionic strength (IS) on HMS formation was quantified which first rise with increasing IS, peaking at 4 mol kg–1 before declining. Given the IS range of marine (2–6) and urban aerosol (6–20 mol kg–1) and the clearly negative correlation between humidity and IS, the moderate IS level under humid condition may notably boost ambient HMS formation.
Fan Mei, Qi Zhang, Damao Zhang, Jerome D. Fast, Gourihar Kulkarni, Mikhail S. Pekour, Christopher R. Niedek, Susanne Glienke, Israel Silber, Beat Schmid, Jason M. Tomlinson, Hardeep S. Mehta, Xena Mansoura, Zezhen Cheng, Gregory W. Vandergrift, Nurun Nahar Lata, Swarup China, and Zihua Zhu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3425–3444, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study highlights the unique capability of the ArcticShark, an uncrewed aerial system, in measuring vertically resolved atmospheric properties. Data from 32 research flights in 2023 reveal seasonal patterns and correlations with conventional measurements. The consistency and complementarity of in situ and remote sensing methods are highlighted. The study demonstrates the ArcticShark’s versatility in bridging data gaps and improving the understanding of vertical atmospheric structures.
Yuan Cheng, Ying-jie Zhong, Zhi-qing Zhang, Xu-bing Cao, and Jiu-meng Liu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-537, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-537, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
As an emerging hotspot of atmospheric sciences, Northeast China is distinct due to the frigid winter and the strong emissions from agricultural fires. Based on field campaigns conducted in Harbin, we successively identified the analytical method that could lead to proper results of organic and elemental carbon. Our results are believed to be a support for future efforts on exploration of the PM2.5 sources in Northeast China, which are essential for further improving the regional air quality.
Ting Yang, Yu Xu, Yu-Chen Wang, Yi-Jia Ma, Hong-Wei Xiao, Hao Xiao, and Hua-Yun Xiao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2967–2978, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2967-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2967-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Previous measurement–model comparisons of atmospheric isoprene levels showed a significant unidentified source of isoprene in some northern Chinese cities during winter. Here, the first combination of large-scale observations and field combustion experiments provides novel insights into biomass burning emissions as a significant source of isoprene-derived organosulfates during winter in northern cities of China.
Agnesh Panta, Konrad Kandler, Kerstin Schepanski, Andres Alastuey, Pavla Dagsson Waldhauserova, Sylvain Dupont, Melanie Eknayan, Cristina González-Flórez, Adolfo González-Romero, Martina Klose, Mara Montag, Xavier Querol, Jesús Yus-Díez, and Carlos Pérez García-Pando
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-494, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-494, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Iceland is among the most active dust source areas in the world. Dust properties are influenced by particle size, mineralogy, shape, and mixing state. This work characterizes freshly emitted individual aerosol particles of Icelandic dust using electron microscopy. Our study provides insights into critical particle-specific information will contribute to better constraining climate models that consider mineralogical variations in their representation of the dust cycle.
Xueqin Zheng, Junwen Liu, Nima Chuduo, Bian Ba, Pengfei Yu, Phu Drolgar, Fang Cao, and Yanlin Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-164, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-164, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we present the first report on the annual variation of stable oxygen isotope anomalies (∆17O = δ17O - 0.52 × δ18O) in NO3- collected from the urban area of Lhasa , on the Tibetan Plateau, China. Using a Bayesian isotope mixture model, we found that the relative contribution of the NO3+VOC pathway to NO3- formation in spring in Lhasa was several times higher than in urban cities, highlighting the significant influence of VOC transported from outside the Tibetan Plateau.
Yi-Jia Ma, Yu Xu, Ting Yang, Lin Gui, Hong-Wei Xiao, Hao Xiao, and Hua-Yun Xiao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2763–2780, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2763-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2763-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The abundance, potential precursors, and main formation mechanisms of nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) in PM2.5 during winter were compared among cities with different energy consumption patterns. The aerosol NOC pollution during winter in China is closely associated with the intensity of precursor emissions and the aqueous-phase processes. Our results highlight the importance of emission reduction strategies in controlling aerosol NOCs pollution during winter in China.
Dane Blanchard, Mark Gordon, Duc Huy Dang, Paul Andrew Makar, and Julian Aherne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2423–2442, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2423-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2423-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study offers the first known evaluation of water-soluble brown carbon aerosols in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), Canada. Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis of aerosol samples from five regional sites (collected during the summer of 2021) identified oil sands operations as a measurable brown carbon source. Industrial aerosol emissions were unlikely to impact regional radiative forcing. These findings show that fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to monitor brown carbon in the AOSR.
Kira Zeider, Kayla McCauley, Sanja Dmitrovic, Leong Wai Siu, Yonghoon Choi, Ewan C. Crosbie, Joshua P. DiGangi, Glenn S. Diskin, Simon Kirschler, John B. Nowak, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Christiane Voigt, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, Paquita Zuidema, and Armin Sorooshian
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2407–2422, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2407-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2407-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In situ aircraft data collected over the northwest Atlantic Ocean are utilized to compare aerosol conditions and turbulence between near-surface and below-cloud-base altitudes for different regimes of coupling strength between those two levels, along with how cloud microphysical properties vary across those regimes. Stronger coupling yields more homogenous aerosol structure vertically along with higher cloud drop concentrations and sea salt influence in clouds.
Junke Zhang, Xinyi Fu, Chunying Chen, Yunfei Su, Siyu Liu, Luyao Chen, Yubao Chen, Gehui Wang, and Andre S. H. Prevot
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-92, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-92, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The 125 organic aerosol (OA) compounds in PM2.5 in winter in Chengdu were measured at the molecular level. OA was dominated by fatty acids, phthalate esters, and anhydrosugars, and were deeply influenced by anthropogenic sources. As pollution worsens: secondary inorganic species and secondary organic carbon (OC) dominated the increase in PM2.5; fatty acids and anhydrosugars dominated the increase in OA; and the contribution of secondary formation and biomass burning to OC increased markedly.
Amie Dobracki, Ernie R. Lewis, Arthur J. Sedlacek III, Tyler Tatro, Maria A. Zawadowicz, and Paquita Zuidema
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2333–2363, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2333-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2333-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Biomass-burning aerosol is commonly present in the marine boundary layer over the southeast Atlantic Ocean between June and October. Our research indicates that burning conditions, aerosol transport pathways, and prolonged oxidation processes (heterogeneous and aqueous phases) determine the chemical, microphysical, and optical properties of the boundary layer aerosol. Notably, we find that the aerosol optical properties can be estimated from the chemical properties alone.
Benjamin Heutte, Nora Bergner, Hélène Angot, Jakob B. Pernov, Lubna Dada, Jessica A. Mirrielees, Ivo Beck, Andrea Baccarini, Matthew Boyer, Jessie M. Creamean, Kaspar R. Daellenbach, Imad El Haddad, Markus M. Frey, Silvia Henning, Tiia Laurila, Vaios Moschos, Tuukka Petäjä, Kerri A. Pratt, Lauriane L. J. Quéléver, Matthew D. Shupe, Paul Zieger, Tuija Jokinen, and Julia Schmale
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2207–2241, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2207-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2207-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Limited aerosol measurements in the central Arctic hinder our understanding of aerosol–climate interactions in the region. Our year-long observations of aerosol physicochemical properties during the MOSAiC expedition reveal strong seasonal variations in aerosol chemical composition, where the short-term variability is heavily affected by storms in the Arctic. Local wind-generated particles are shown to be an important source of cloud seeds, especially in autumn.
Feng Jiang, Harald Saathoff, Uzoamaka Ezenobi, Junwei Song, Hengheng Zhang, Linyu Gao, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1917–1930, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1917-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1917-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The chemical composition of brown carbon in the particle and gas phase was determined by mass spectrometry. BrC in the gas phase was mainly controlled by secondary formation and particle-to-gas partitioning. BrC in the particle phase was mainly from secondary formation. This work helps to get a better understanding of diurnal variations and the sources of brown carbon aerosol at a rural location in central Europe.
Theresa Mathes, Heather Guy, John Prytherch, Julia Kojoj, Ian Brooks, Sonja Murto, Paul Zieger, Birgit Wehner, Michael Tjernström, and Andreas Held
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-183, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-183, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic is warming faster than the global average and aerosol-cloud-sea-ice interactions are crucial for studying its climate system. During the ARTofMELT Expedition 2023, particle and sensible heat fluxes were measured over multiple surfaces. Wide lead surfaces acted as particle sources with the strongest sensible heat fluxes, while closed ice surfaces acted as a particle sink. This study improves methods to measure these interactions, enhancing our understanding of Arctic climate processes.
Vikram Pratap, Christopher J. Hennigan, Bastian Stieger, Andreas Tilgner, Laurent Poulain, Dominik van Pinxteren, Gerald Spindler, and Hartmut Herrmann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-457, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-457, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we characterize trends in aerosol pH and its controlling factors over the period of 2010 – 2019 at the Melpitz research station in eastern Germany. We find strong trends in aerosol pH and major inorganic species in response to changing emissions. We conduct a detailed thermodynamic analysis of the aerosol system and discuss implications for controlling PM2.5 in the region.
Kohei Sakata, Shotaro Takano, Atsushi Matsuki, Yasuo Takeichi, Hiroshi Tanimoto, Aya Sakaguchi, Minako Kurisu, and Yoshio Takahashi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-161, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-161, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Deposition of aerosol iron (Fe) into the ocean stimulates primary production and influences the global carbon cycle, although the factors governing the aerosol Fe solubility remain uncertain. Our observations in Japan revealed that both mineral dust and anthropogenic aerosols are significant sources of dissolved Fe, and that atmospheric chemical weathering enhances their solubility. This finding is expected to play a crucial role in estimating the supply of dissolved iron to the ocean.
Rui Li, Yubing Shen, Yumeng Shao, Yining Gao, Ziwei Yao, Qian Liu, Xing Liu, and Guitao Shi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3740, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3740, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
It is the first time to reveal the global variations of PAHs derivatives in the marine air. We found that marine aerosols in East China Sea (ECS) and Western Pacific (WP) were significantly affected by coal and engine combustion, while those in Bismarck Sea (BS) and East Australian Sea (EAS) were mainly influenced by wildfire and coal combustion. Antarctic Ocean (AO) was dominated by biomass burning and local shipping emissions. This finding help elucidate the mechanism of global PAH cycle.
James Brean, David C. S. Beddows, Eija Asmi, Aki Virkkula, Lauriane L. J. Quéléver, Mikko Sipilä, Floortje Van Den Heuvel, Thomas Lachlan-Cope, Anna Jones, Markus Frey, Angelo Lupi, Jiyeon Park, Young Jun Yoon, Rolf Weller, Giselle L. Marincovich, Gabriela C. Mulena, Roy M. Harrison, and Manuel Dall'Osto
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1145–1162, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1145-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1145-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our results emphasise how understanding the geographical variation in surface types across the Antarctic is key to understanding secondary aerosol sources.
Adam E. Thomas, Hayley S. Glicker, Alex B. Guenther, Roger Seco, Oscar Vega Bustillos, Julio Tota, Rodrigo A. F. Souza, and James N. Smith
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 959–977, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-959-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-959-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We present measurements of the organic composition of ultrafine particles collected from the eastern Amazon, an understudied region that is subjected to increasing human influence. We find that while isoprene chemistry is likely significant for ultrafine-particle growth throughout the year, compounds related to other sources, such as biological-spore emissions and biomass burning, exhibit striking seasonal differences, implying extensive variation in regional ultrafine-particle sources.
Xiufeng Lian, Yongjiang Xu, Fengxian Liu, Long Peng, Xiaodong Hu, Guigang Tang, Xu Dao, Hui Guo, Liwei Wang, Bo Huang, Chunlei Cheng, Lei Li, Guohua Zhang, Xinhui Bi, Xiaofei Wang, Zhen Zhou, and Mei Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3469, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3469, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we analyzed the mixing state and atmospheric chemical processes of Pb-rich single particles in Beijing. Then, we focused on analyzing the differences in Pb-rich particles between the heating period and non-heating period, as well as the formation mechanism of lead nitrate after coal-to-gas conversion. Our results highlighted the improvement of coal-to-gas conversion on Pb in the particulate.
Chiara Giorio, Anne Monod, Valerio Di Marco, Pierre Herckes, Denise Napolitano, Amy Sullivan, Gautier Landrot, Daniel Warnes, Marika Nasti, Sara D'Aronco, Agathe Gérardin, Nicolas Brun, Karine Desboeufs, Sylvain Triquet, Servanne Chevaillier, Claudia Di Biagio, Francesco Battaglia, Frédéric Burnet, Stuart J. Piketh, Andreas Namwoonde, Jean-François Doussin, and Paola Formenti
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4140, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4140, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A comparison between the solubility of trace metals in pairs of total suspended particulate (TSP) and fog water samples collected in Henties Bay, Namibia, during the AEROCLO-sA field campaign is presented. We found enhanced solubility of metals in fog samples which we attributed to metal-ligand complexes formation in the early stages of particle activation into droplets which can then remain in a kinetically stable form in fog or lead to the formation of colloidal nanoparticles.
Xu Yu, Min Zhou, Shuhui Zhu, Liping Qiao, Jinjian Li, Yingge Ma, Zijing Zhang, Kezheng Liao, Hongli Wang, and Jian Zhen Yu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4103, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4103, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Online measurements of bulk aerosol organic nitrogen (ON), in conjunction with a comprehensive array of source markers, have revealed five emission sources and five potentially significant formation processes of nitrogenous organic aerosols. This study provides first quantitative source analysis of ON aerosol and valuable observational evidence on secondary ON aerosol formation through NH3 and NOx chemistries.
Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kaori Fukuda, Koji Fujita, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Remi Dallmayr, Jun Ogata, Nobuhiro Moteki, Tatsuhiro Mori, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, Makoto Koike, Sumito Matoba, Moe Kadota, Akane Tsushima, Naoko Nagatsuka, and Teruo Aoki
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 657–683, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-657-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-657-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Monthly ice core records spanning 350 years from Greenland show trends in refractory black carbon (rBC) concentrations and sizes. rBC levels have increased since the 1870s due to the inflow of anthropogenic rBC, with larger diameters than those from biomass burning (BB) rBC. High summer BB rBC peaks may reduce the ice sheet albedo, but BB rBC showed no increase until the early 2000s. These results are vital for validating aerosol and climate models.
Petr Vodička, Kimitaka Kawamura, Bhagawati Kunwar, Lin Huang, Dhananjay K. Deshmukh, Md. Mozammel Haque, Sangeeta Sharma, and Leonard Barrie
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3656, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3656, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Carbonate carbon (CC) is not negligible in Arctic total suspended particles (TSP). If not considered, CC biases the contribution of elemental and organic carbon. CC content in TSP was strongly reflected in the δ13C values of total carbon (TC). Carbon contribution from CaCO3 supports strong dependence of CC and δ13C on Ca. Finally, two hypothetical CC sources were identified based on the analysis of air mass back trajectories – dust resuspension and marine microorganisms.
Cited articles
Alves, C., Pio, C., and Duarte, A.: Composition of extractable organic
matter of air particles from rural and urban Portuguese areas, Atmos.
Environ., 35, 5485–5496, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(01)00243-6, 2001.
Anh, H. Q., Tran, T. M., Thuy, N. T. T., Minh, T. B., and Takahashi, S.: Screening analysis of organic micro-pollutants in road dusts from some areas in northern Vietnam: A preliminary investigation on contamination status, potential sources, human exposure, and ecological risk, Chemoshpere, 224, 428–436, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.177, 2019.
Aumont, B., Valorso, R., Mouchel-Vallon, C., Camredon, M., Lee-Taylor, J., and Madronich, S.: Modeling SOA formation from the oxidation of intermediate volatility n-alkanes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 7577–7589, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-7577-2012, 2012.
Aumont, B., Camredon, M., Mouchel-Vallon, C., La, S., Ouzebidour, F.,
Valorso, R., Lee-Taylor, J., and Madronich, S.: Modeling the influence of
alkane molecular structure on secondary organic aerosol formation, Faraday
Discuss., 165, 105–122, https://doi.org/10.1039/C3FD00029J, 2013.
Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environmental Bureau: Beijing Ecology and Environment Statement, 2016–2021, http://sthjj.beijing.gov.cn/, last access: 5 July 2022.
Bi, X. H., Sheng, G. Y., Peng, P. A., Chen, Y. J., Zhang, Z. Q., and Fu, J. M.: Distribution of particulate- and vapor-phase n-alkanes and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons in urban atmosphere of Guangzhou, China, Atmos. Environ., 37, 289–298, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(02)00832-4, 2003.
Bray, E. E. and Evans, E. D.: Distribution of n-paraffins as a clue to
recognition of source beds, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 22, 2–15, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(61)90069-2, 1961.
Cass, G. R.: Organic molecular tracers for particulate air pollution sources,
TrAC - Trend. Anal. Chem., 17, 356–366, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-9936(98)00040-5, 1998.
Caumo, S., Bruns, R. E., and Vasconcellos, P. C.: Variation of the
Distribution of Atmospheric n-Alkanes Emitted by Different Fuels' Combustion, Atmosphere, 11, 643, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11060643, 2020.
Chen, Q., Chen, Y., Luo, X. S., Hong, Y. W., Hong, Z. Y., Zhao, Z., and
Chen, J. S.: Seasonal characteristics and health risks of PM2.5-bound
organic pollutants in industrial and urban areas of a China megacity, J.
Environ. Manage., 245, 273–281, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.061, 2019.
Chen, Y., Cao, J. J., Zhao, J., Xu, H. M., Arimoto, R., Wang, G. H., Han, Y.
M., Shen, Z. X., and Li, G. H.: n-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in total suspended particulates from the southeastern Tibetan
Plateau: concentrations, seasonal variations, and sources, Sci. Total
Environ., 470–471, 9–18, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.033, 2014.
Chrysikou, L. P. and Samara, C. A.: Seasonal variation of the size distribution of urban particulate matter and associated organic pollutants
in the ambient air, Atmos. Environ., 43, 4557–4569, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.06.033, 2009.
Daher, N., Saliba, N. A., Shihadeh, A. L., Jaafar, M., Baalbake, R., and Sioutas, C.: Chemical composition of size-resolved particulate matter at near-freeway and urban background sites in the greater Beirut area, Atmos. Environ., 80, 96–106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.08.004, 2013.
Duan, F. K., He, K. B., and Liu, X. D.: Characteristics and source
identification of fine particulate n-alkanes in Beijing, China, J. Environ.
Sci., 22, 998–1005, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(09)60210-2, 2010.
Ficken, K. J., Li, B., Swain, D. L., and Eglinton, G.: An n-alkane proxy for
the sedimentary input of submerged/floating freshwater aquatic macrophytes,
Org. Geochem., 31, 745–749, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(00)00081-4, 2000.
Fu, P. Q., Kawamura, K., Pavuluri, C. M., Swaminathan, T., and Chen, J.: Molecular characterization of urban organic aerosol in tropical India: contributions of primary emissions and secondary photooxidation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 2663–2689, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-2663-2010, 2010.
Fujitani, Y., Saitoh, K., Fushimi, A., Takahashi, K., Hasegawa, S., Tanabe,
K., Kobayashi, S., Furuyama, A., Hirano, S., and Takami, A.: Effect of
isothermal dilution on emission factors of organic carbon and n-alkanes in
the particle and gas phases of diesel exhaust, Atmos. Environ., 59, 389–397,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.06.010, 2012.
Han, D., Fu, Q., Gao, S., Li, L., Ma, Y., Qiao, L., Xu, H., Liang, S., Cheng, P., Chen, X., Zhou, Y., Yu, J. Z., and Cheng, J.: Non-polar organic compounds in autumn and winter aerosols in a typical city of eastern China: size distribution and impact of gas–particle partitioning on PM2.5 source apportionment, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 9375–9391, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9375-2018, 2018.
Huang, R. J., Zhang, Y. L., Bozzetti, C., Ho, K. F., Cao, J. J., Han, Y. M.,
Daellenbach, R. K., Slowik, J. G., Platt, S. M., Canonaco, F., Zotter, P.,
Wolf, R., Pieber, S. M., Bruns, E. A., Crippa, M., Ciarelli, G., Piazzalunga, A., Schwikowski, M., Abbaszade, G., Schnelle-Kreis, J., Zimmermann, R., An, Z. S., Szidat, S., Baltensperger, U., Haddad, I. E., and Prévôt, A. S. H.: High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze events in China, Nature, 514, 218–222, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13774, 2014.
Kang, M. J., Fu, P. Q., Aggarwal, S. G., Kumar, S., Zhao, Y., Sun, Y. L., and
Wang, Z. F.: Size distributions of n-alkanes, fatty acids and fatty alcohols in springtime aerosols from New Delhi, India, Environ. Pollut., 219,
957–966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.077, 2016a.
Kang, M. J., Ren, L. J., Ren, H., Zhao, Y., Kawamura, K., Zhang, H. L., Wei,
L. F., Sun, Y. L., Wang, Z. F., and Fu, P. Q.: Primary biogenic and
anthropogenic sources of organic aerosols in Beijing, China: Insights from
saccharides and n-alkanes, Environ. Pollut., 243, 1579–1587, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.118, 2016b.
Kang, M., Kim, K., Choi, N., Kim, Y. P., and Lee, J. Y.: Recent Occurrence
of PAHs and n-Alkanes in PM2.5 in Seoul, Korea and Characteristics of Their Sources and Toxicity, Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. He., 17, 1397, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041397, 2020.
Kavouras, I. G, Koutrakis, P., Tsapakis, M., Lagoudaki, E., Stephanou, E. G.,
Baer, D. V., and Oyola, P.: Source apportionment of urban particulate
aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using multivariate
methods, Environ. Sci. Technol., 35, 2288–2294, https://doi.org/10.1021/es001540z,
2001.
Kawamura, K., Ishimura, Y., and Yamazaki, K.: Four years' observations of
terrestrial lipid class compounds in marine aerosols from the western North
Pacific, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 17, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GB001810,
2003.
Li, F. X., Gu, J. W., Xin, J. Y., Schnelle-Kreis, J., Wang, Y. S., Liu, Z.
R., Shen, R. R., Michalke, B., Abbaszade, G., and Zimmermann, R.: Characteristics of chemical profile, sources and PAH toxicity of PM2.5 in Beijing in autumn-winter transit season with regard to domestic heating,
pollution control measures and meteorology, Chemosphere, 276, 130143, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130143, 2021.
Li, W. F., Peng, Y., and Bai, Z. P.: Distributions and sources of n-alkanes
in PM2.5 at urban, industrial and coastal sites in Tianjin, China, J.
Environ. Sci., 22, 1551–1557, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(09)60288-6, 2010.
Li, X. R., Wang, Y. S., Guo, X. Q., and Wang, Y. F.: Seasonal variation and
source apportionment of organic and inorganic compounds in PM2.5 and PM10 particulates in Beijing, China, J. Environ. Sci., 25, 741–750, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(12)60121-1, 2013.
Li, Y. S., Cao, J. J., Li, J. J., Zhou, J. M., Xu, H. M., Zhang, R. J., and
Ouyang, Z. Y.: Molecular distribution and seasonal variation of hydrocarbons
in PM2.5 from Beijing during 2006, Particuology, 11, 78–85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.09.002, 2013.
Liao, H. T., Lee, C. L., Tsai, W. C., Yu, J. Z., Tsai, S. W., Chou, C. C. K.,
and Wu, C. F.: Source apportionment of urban PM2.5 using positive matrix
factorization with vertically distributed measurements of trace elements and
nonpolar organic compounds, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 12, 200–207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2021.03.007, 2021.
Liebezeit, G. and Wöstmann, R.: n-Alkanes as indicators of natural and anthropogenic organic matter sources in the Siak River and its Estuary, E Sumatra, Indonesia, B. Environ. Contam. Tox., 83, 403–409, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9734-4, 2009.
Liu, L. Y., Wei, G. L., Wang, J. Z., Guan, Y. F., Wong, C. S., Wu, F. C., and
Zeng, E. Y.: Anthropogenic activities have contributed moderately to
increased inputs of organic materials in marginal seas off China, Environ.
Sci. Technol., 47, 11414–11422, https://doi.org/10.1021/es401751k, 2013.
Liu, X. D., Meng, J. J., Hou, Z. F., Yi, Y. N., Wei, B. J., and Fu, M. X.:
Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of n-alkanes and Saccharides
in PM2.5 During the Winter in Liaocheng City, Environ. Sci., 40, 548–557, https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.201807132, 2019 (in Chinese).
Lv, L. L., Chen, Y. J., Han, Y., Cui, M., Wei, P., Zheng, M., and Hu, J. N.:
High-time-resolution PM2.5 source apportionment based on multi-model with organic tracers in Beijing during haze episodes, Sci. Total Environ., 772, 144766, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144766, 2020.
Lyu, R. H., Shi, Z. B., Alam, M. S., Wu, X. F., Liu, D., Vu, T. V, Stark,
C., Xu, R. X., Fu, P. Q., Feng, Y. C., and Harrison, R. M: Alkanes and
aliphatic carbonyl compounds in wintertime PM2.5 in Beijing, China, Atmos. Environ., 202, 244–255, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.01.023, 2019.
Lyu, Y., Xu, T. T., Yang, X., Chen, J. M., Cheng, T. T., and Li, X.:
Seasonal contributions to size-resolved n-alkanes (C8–C40) in the Shanghai atmosphere from regional anthropogenic activities and terrestrial plant waxes, Sci. Total Environ., 579, 1918–1928, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.201, 2016.
Ma, J. Z., Xu, X. B., Zhao, C. S., and Yan, P.: A review of atmospheric
chemistry research in China: Photochemical smog, haze pollution, and
gas-aerosol interactions, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 29, 1006–1026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-012-1188-7, 2012.
Marzi, R., Torkelson, B. E., and Olson, R. K.: A revised carbon preference
index, Org. Geochem., 20, 1303–1306, https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(93)90016-5,
1993.
Michoud, V., Kukui, A., Camredon, M., Colomb, A., Borbon, A., Miet, K., Aumont, B., Beekmann, M., Durand-Jolibois, R., Perrier, S., Zapf, P., Siour, G., Ait-Helal, W., Locoge, N., Sauvage, S., Afif, C., Gros, V., Furger, M., Ancellet, G., and Doussin, J. F.: Radical budget analysis in a suburban European site during the MEGAPOLI summer field campaign, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 11951–11974, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-11951-2012, 2012.
Moeinaddini, M., Sari, A. E., Bakhtiari, A. R., Chan, A. Y. C., Taghavi, S.
M., Hawker, D., and Connell, D.: Source apportionment of PAHs and n-alkanes
in respirable particles in Tehran, Iran by wind sector and vertical profile,
Environ. Sci. Pollut. R., 21, 7757–7772, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2694-1,
2014.
Niu, H. Y., Zhao, X., Dai, Z. X., Wang, G. H., and Wang, L. S.: Characterization, source apportionment of particulate matter and n-alkanes
in atmospheric aerosols in Nanjing City, Environ. Pollut. Control, 27, 363–366, https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-3865.2005.05.014, 2005 (in Chinese).
Oros, D. R. and Simoneit, B. R. T.: Identification and emission rates of
molecular tracers in coal smoke particulate matter, Fuel, 79, 515–536, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-2361(99)00153-2, 2000.
Presto, A. A., Miracolo, M. A., Kroll, J. H., Worsnop, D. R., Robinson, A. L.,
and Donahue, N. M.: Intermediate-volatility organic compounds: a potential
source of ambient oxidized organic aerosol, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43,
4744–4749, https://doi.org/10.1021/es803219q, 2009.
Qi, M. X., Jiang, L., Liu, Y. X., Xiong, Q. L., Sun, C. Y., Li, X., Zhao, W.
J., and Yang, X. C.: Analysis of the Characteristics and Sources of
Carbonaceous Aerosols in PM2.5 in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang Region, China, Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. He., 15, 1438, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071483, 2018.
Ren, L. J., Fu, P. Q., He, Y., Hou, J. Z., Chen, J., Pavuluri, C. M., Sun,
Y. L., and Wang, Z. F.: Molecular distributions and compound-specific stable
carbon isotopic compositions of lipids in wintertime aerosols from Beijing,
Sci. Rep.-UK, 6, 27481, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep27481, 2016.
Ren, L. J., Hu, W., Hou, J. Z., Li, L. J., Yue, S. Y., Sun, Y. L., Wang, Z.
F., Li, X. F., Pavuluri, C. M., Hou, S. J., Liu, C. Q., Kawamura, K., Ellam,
R. M., and Fu, P. Q.: Compound-Specific Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of
Terrestrial Biomarkers in Urban Aerosols from Beijing, China, ACS Earth
Space Chem., 3, 1896–1904, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.9b00113, 2019.
Ren, Y. Q., Wang, G. H., Wu, C., Wang, J. Y., Li, J. J., Zhang, L., Han, Y.
N., Liu, L., Cao, C., Cao, J. J., He, Q., and Liu, X. C.: Changes in
concentration, composition and source contribution of atmospheric organic
aerosols by shifting coal to natural gas in Urumqi, Atmos. Environ., 148,
306–315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.10.053, 2017.
Rogge, W. F., Hildemann, L. M., Mazurek, M. A., Cass, G. R., and Simoneit, B. R. T.: Sources of fine organic aerosol. 4. Particulate abrasion products from
leaf surfaces of urban plants, Environ. Sci. Technol., 27, 2700–2711, https://doi.org/10.1021/es00049a008, 1993.
Schauer, J. J., Kleeman, M. J., Cass, G. R., and Simoneit, B. R. T.: Measurement of Emissions from Air Pollution Sources. 2. C1 through C30 Organic Compounds from Medium Duty Diesel Trucks, Environ. Sci. Technol., 33, 1578–1587, https://doi.org/10.1021/es980081n, 1999.
Schauer, J. J., Kleeman, M. J., Cass, G. R., and Simoneit, B. R. T.: Measurement of Emissions from Air Pollution Sources. 5. C1–C32 Organic Compounds from gasoline-Powered Motor Vehicles, Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 1169–1180, https://doi.org/10.1021/es0108077, 2002.
Simoneit, B. R. T.: Application of Molecular Marker Analysis to Vehicular
Exhaust for Source Reconciliations, Int. J. Environ. An. Ch., 22, 203–232, https://doi.org/10.1080/03067318508076422, 1985.
Simoneit, B. R. T.: Organic matter of the troposphere – V: Application of
molecular marker analysis to biogenic emissions into the troposphere for
source reconciliations, J. Atmos. Chem., 8, 251–275, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00051497, 1989.
Simoneit, B. R. T., Kobayashi, M., Mochida, M., Kawamura, K., and Huebert, B.
J.: Aerosol particles collected on aircraft flights over the northwestern
Pacific region during the ACE-Asia campaign: composition and major sources
of the organic compounds, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D19S09, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD004565, 2004.
Sun, N., Li, X. D., Ji, Y., Huang, H. Y., Ye, Z. L., and Zhao, Z. Z.:
Sources of PM2.5-Associated PAHs and n-alkanes in Changzhou China,
Atmosphere, 12, 1127, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091127, 2021.
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.
United States Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) 5.0 Fundamentals and User Guide, EPA/600/R-14/108, https://www.epa.gov/, last access: 25/7/2022, 2014.
Wagner, P. and Schäfer, K.: Influence of mixing layer height on air
pollutant concentrations in an urban street canyon, Urban Climate, 22, 64–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2015.11.001, 2017.
Wang, F. W., Guo, Z. G., Lin, T., and Rose, N. L.: Seasonal variation of
carbonaceous pollutants in PM2.5 at an urban 'supersite' in Shanghai, China, Chemosphere, 146, 238–244, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.12.036, 2016.
Wang, G. H. and Kawamura, K.: Molecular characteristics of urban organic
aerosols from Nanjing: a case study of a mega-city in China, Environ. Sci.
Technol., 39, 7430–7438, https://doi.org/10.1021/es051055+, 2005.
Wang, G. H., Huang, L. M., Zhao, X., Niu, H. Y., and Dai, Z. X.: Aliphatic
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of atmospheric aerosols in five
locations of Nanjing urban area, China, Atmos. Res., 81, 54–66, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2005.11.004, 2006a.
Wang, G. H., Kawamura, K., Lee, S. C., Ho, K. F., and Cao, J. J.: Molecular,
Seasonal, and Spatial Distributions of Organic Aerosols from Fourteen
Chinese Cities, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 4619–4625, https://doi.org/10.1021/es060291x, 2006b.
Wang, G. H., Zhang, R. Y., Gomez, M. E., Yang, L. X., Zamora, M. L., Hu, M.,
Lin, Y., Peng, J. F., Guo, S., Meng, J. J., Li, J. J., Chen, C. L., Hu, T.
F., Ren, Y. Q., Wang, Y. S., Gao, J., Cao, J. J., An, Z. S., Zhou, W. J.,
Li, G. H., Wang, J. Y., Tian, P. F., Marrero-Ortiz, W., Secrest, J., Du, Z.
F., Zheng, J., Shang, D. J., Zheng, L. M., Shao, M., Wang, W. G., Huang, Y.,
Wang, Y., Zhu, Y. J., Li, Y. X., Hu, J. X., Pan, B. W., Cai, L., Cheng, Y. T., Ji, Y. M., Zhang, F., Rosenfeld, D., Liss, P. S., Duce, R. A., Kolb, C. E., and Molina, M. J.: Persistent sulfate formation from London Fog to China
haze, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 113, 13630–13635, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1616540113, 2016.
Wang, H., Li, Z., Lv, Y., Zhang, Y., Xu, H., Guo, J., and Goloub, P.: Determination and climatology of the diurnal cycle of the atmospheric mixing layer height over Beijing 2013–2018: lidar measurements and implications for air pollution, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 8839–8854, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8839-2020, 2020.
Wang, J. Z., Ho, S. S. H., Ma, S. X., Cao, J. J., Dai, W. T., Liu, S. X.,
Shen, Z. X., Huang, R. J., Wang, G. H., and Han, Y. M.: Characterization of PM2.5 in Guangzhou, China: uses of organic markers for supporting source apportionment, Sci. Total Environ., 550, 961–971, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.138, 2016.
Wang, Q., Jiang, N., Yin, S. S., Li, X., Yu, F., Guo, Y., and Zhang, R. Q.:
Carbonaceous species in PM2.5 and PM10 in urban area of Zhengzhou in China: Seasonal variations and source apportionment, Atmos. Res., 191, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2017.02.003, 2017.
Wei, M., Li, M. Y., Xu, C. H., Xu, P. J., and Liu, H. F.: Pollution
characteristics of bioaerosols in PM2.5 during the winter heating season in a coastal city of northern China, Environ. Sci. Pollut. R., 27,
27750–27761, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09070-y, 2020.
Wick, C. D., Siepmann, J., Klotz, W. L., and Schure, M. R.: Temperature
effects on the retention of n-alkanes and arenes in helium–squalane
gas–liquid chromatography: experiment and molecular simulation, J.
Chromatogr. A, 957, 181–190, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(02)00171-1, 2002.
Xu, H. M., Tao, J., Ho, S. S. H., Ho, K. F., Cao, J. J., Li, N., Chow, J.
C., Wang, G. H., Han, Y. M., and Zhang, R. J.: Characteristics of fine
particulate non-polar organic compounds in Guangzhou during the 16th Asian
Games: Effectiveness of air pollution controls, Atmos. Environ., 76, 94–101,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.12.037, 2013.
Xu, T. T., Lv, Y., Cheng, T. T., and Li, X.: Using comprehensive
GC×GC to study PAHs and n-alkanes associated with PM2.5 in urban atmosphere, Environ. Sci. Pollut. R., 22, 5253–5262, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3695-9, 2015.
Yadav, S., Tandon, A., and Attri, A.: Monthly and seasonal variation in
aerosol associated n-alkane profiles in relation to meteorological
parameters in New Delhi, India, Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 13, 287–300, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2012.01.0004, 2013.
Yang, X. H., Luo, F. X., Li, J. Q., Chen. D. Y., Ye, E., Lin, W. L., and Jin,
J.: Alkyl and aromatic nitrates in atmospheric particles determined by gas
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectr., 30, 2762–2770, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-019-02347-8, 2019.
Yao, L., Li, X. R., Guo, X. Q., Liu, X. R., and Wang, Y. S.: Pollution
Characteristics of n-alkanes in Atmospheric Fine Particles During Spring
Festival of 2007 in Beijing, Environ. Sci., 30, 589–593, https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.2009.02.042, 2009 (in Chinese).
Yuan, J. W., Liu, G., Li, J. H., and Xu, H.: Chemical Composition of Alkanes
and Organic Acids in Vehicle Exhaust, Environ. Sci., 37, 2052–2058, https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.2016.06.007, 2016 (in Chinese).
Zhao, Y., Zhang, Y., Fu, P., Ho, S. S., Ho, K. F., Liu, F., Zou, S., Wang,
S., and Lai, S.: Non-polar organic compounds in marine aerosols over the
northern South China Sea: Influence of continental outflow, Chemosphere, 153, 332–339, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.069, 2016.
Zhang, R. Y., Wang, G. H., Guo, S., Zamora, M. L., Ying, Q., Lin, Y., Wang,
W. G., Hu, M., and Wang, Y.: Formation of urban fine particulate matter,
Chem. Rev., 115, 3803–3855, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00067, 2015.
Zhu, X. L., Zhang, Y. H., Zeng, L. M., and Wang, W.: Source Identification
of Ambient PM2.5 in Beijing, Res. Environ. Sci., 18, 1–5, https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1001-6929.2005.05.001, 2005 (in Chinese).
Short summary
The characteristics of n-alkanes and the contributions of various sources of PM2.5 in the atmosphere in Beijing were studied. There were marked seasonal and diurnal differences in the n-alkane concentrations (p<0.01). Particulate-bound n-alkanes were supplied by anthropogenic and biogenic sources; fossil fuel combustion was the dominant contributor. Vehicle exhausts strongly affect PM2.5 pollution. Controlling vehicle exhaust emissions is key to control n-alkane and PM2.5 pollution in Beijing.
The characteristics of n-alkanes and the contributions of various sources of PM2.5 in the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint