Articles | Volume 24, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11497-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-24-11497-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Oct 2024
Research article |
| 16 Oct 2024
| 16 Oct 2024
Long-range transport of air pollutants increases the concentration of hazardous components of PM2.5 in northern South America
Maria P. Velásquez-García
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Grupo de Higiene y Gestión Ambiental, Politécnico Jaime Isaza Cadavid, Medellín, Colombia
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
K. Santiago Hernández
Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
James A. Vergara-Correa
Grupo de Higiene y Gestión Ambiental, Politécnico Jaime Isaza Cadavid, Medellín, Colombia
Richard J. Pope
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Miriam Gómez-Marín
Grupo de Higiene y Gestión Ambiental, Politécnico Jaime Isaza Cadavid, Medellín, Colombia
Angela M. Rendón
Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
Related authors
No articles found.
Suvarna Fadnavis, Yasin Elshorbany, Jerald Ziemke, Brice Barret, Alexandru Rap, P. R. Satheesh Chandran, Richard J. Pope, Vijay Sagar, Domenico Taraborrelli, Eric Le Flochmoen, Juan Cuesta, Catherine Wespes, Folkert Boersma, Isolde Glissenaar, Isabelle De Smedt, Michel Van Roozendael, Hervé Petetin, and Isidora Anglou
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8229–8254, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8229-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Satellites and model simulations show enhancement in tropospheric ozone, which is highly impacted by human-produced nitrous oxides compared to volatile organic compounds. The increased amount of ozone enhances ozone radiative forcing. The ozone enhancement and associated radiative forcing are the highest over South and East Asia. The emissions of nitrous oxides show a higher influence on shifting ozone photochemical regimes than volatile organic compounds.
Emma Sands, Ruth M. Doherty, Fiona M. O'Connor, Richard J. Pope, James Weber, and Daniel P. Grosvenor
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7269–7297, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7269-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7269-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We perform a detailed satellite–model comparison for isoprene, formaldehyde and aerosol optical depth in an Earth system model. We quantify the impacts of several processes that affect how biosphere–atmosphere interactions influence atmospheric chemistry and aerosols. Our findings highlight that the aerosol direct effect is sensitive to the processes studied. These results can inform future investigations of how the biosphere can affect atmospheric composition and climate.
Alok K. Pandey, David S. Stevenson, Alcide Zhao, Richard J. Pope, Ryan Hossaini, Krishan Kumar, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4785–4802, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4785-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4785-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant largely controlled by human activity that affects ozone, methane, and aerosols. Satellite instruments can quantify column NO2 and, by carefully matching the time and location of measurements, enable evaluation of model simulations. NO2 over south and east Asia is assessed, showing that the model captures not only many features of the measurements, but also important differences that suggest model deficiencies in representing several aspects of the atmospheric chemistry of NO2.
Matilda A. Pimlott, Richard J. Pope, Brian J. Kerridge, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Lucy J. Ventress, Wuhu Feng, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4391–4401, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4391-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4391-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Globally, lockdowns were implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19, leading to a decrease in emissions of key air pollutants. Here, we use novel satellite data and a chemistry model to investigate the impact of the pandemic on tropospheric ozone (O3), a key pollutant, in 2020. Overall, we found substantial decreases of up to 20 %, two-thirds of which came from emission reductions, while one-third was due to a decrease in the stratospheric O3 flux into the troposphere.
Michael P. Cartwright, Jeremy J. Harrison, David P. Moore, Richard J. Pope, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Chris Wilson, and Wuhu Feng
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1073, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1073, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We use satellite measurements to estimate quantities of a gas called carbonyl sulfide (OCS) in the atmosphere. OCS is consumed during photosynthesis, much like carbon dioxide (CO2). Our data is focused mostly over the global oceans for the year 2018, and we find it compares well with past satellite observations, ground-based measurements and modelled OCS. We hope to extend this measurement record and use it in data-driven tools in the future to better understand the carbon cycle globally.
Aishah I. Shittu, Kirsty J. Pringle, Stephen R. Arnold, Richard J. Pope, Ailish M. Graham, Carly Reddington, Richard Rigby, and James B. McQuaid
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 817–828, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-817-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-817-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The study highlighted the performance of Atmotube PRO sensor particulate matter (PM) data. The result showed inter-sensor variability among the Atmotube PRO sensor data. This study showed 62.5 % of the sensors used for the study exhibited greater precision in their PM2.5 measurements. The overall performance showed that sensors passed the base testing using 1 h averaged data and that a multiple linear regression model using relative humidity values improved the performance of the PM2.5 data.
Matilda A. Pimlott, Richard J. Pope, Brian J. Kerridge, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Wuhu Feng, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3717, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3717, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a harmful secondary atmospheric pollutant and an important greenhouse gas. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of lower-tropospheric sub-column O3 (LTCO3, surface – 6 km) records from three satellite products produced by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) over Europe between 1996 and 2017. Overall, we detect moderate negative trends in the satellite records, but corresponding model simulations and ozonesonde measurements show negligible trends.
Emma Sands, Richard J. Pope, Ruth M. Doherty, Fiona M. O'Connor, Chris Wilson, and Hugh Pumphrey
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11081–11102, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11081-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11081-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Changes in vegetation alongside biomass burning impact regional atmospheric composition and air quality. Using satellite remote sensing, we find a clear linear relationship between forest cover and isoprene and a pronounced non-linear relationship between burned area and nitrogen dioxide in the southern Amazon, a region of substantial deforestation. These quantified relationships can be used for model evaluation and further exploration of biosphere-atmosphere interactions in Earth System Models.
Richard J. Pope, Fiona M. O'Connor, Mohit Dalvi, Brian J. Kerridge, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Brice Barret, Eric Le Flochmoen, Anne Boynard, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Wuhu Feng, Matilda A. Pimlott, Sandip S. Dhomse, Christian Retscher, Catherine Wespes, and Richard Rigby
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9177–9195, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9177-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9177-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ozone is a potent air pollutant in the lower troposphere, with adverse impacts on human health. Satellite records of tropospheric ozone currently show large-scale inconsistencies in long-term trends. Our detailed study of the potential factors (e.g. satellite errors, where the satellite can observe ozone) potentially driving these inconsistencies found that, in North America, Europe, and East Asia, the underlying trends are typically small with large uncertainties.
Richard J. Pope, Alexandru Rap, Matilda A. Pimlott, Brice Barret, Eric Le Flochmoen, Brian J. Kerridge, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Lucy J. Ventress, Anne Boynard, Christian Retscher, Wuhu Feng, Richard Rigby, Sandip S. Dhomse, Catherine Wespes, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3613–3626, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3613-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3613-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone is an important short-lived climate forcer which influences the incoming solar short-wave radiation and the outgoing long-wave radiation in the atmosphere (8–15 km) where the balance between the two yields a net positive (i.e. warming) effect at the surface. Overall, we find that the tropospheric ozone radiative effect ranges between 1.21 and 1.26 W m−2 with a negligible trend (2008–2017), suggesting that tropospheric ozone influences on climate have remained stable with time.
Ailish M. Graham, Richard J. Pope, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Sandip S. Dhomse, Matilda Pimlott, Wuhu Feng, Vikas Singh, Ying Chen, Oliver Wild, Ranjeet Sokhi, and Gufran Beig
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 789–806, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-789-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-789-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our paper uses novel satellite datasets and high-resolution emissions datasets alongside a back-trajectory model to investigate the balance of local and external sources influencing NOx air pollution changes in Delhi. We find in the post-monsoon season that NOx from local and non-local transport emissions contributes most to poor air quality in Delhi. Therefore, air quality mitigation strategies in Delhi and surrounding regions are used to control this issue.
Jhayron S. Pérez-Carrasquilla, Paola A. Montoya, Juan Manuel Sánchez, K. Santiago Hernández, and Mauricio Ramírez
Adv. Stat. Clim. Meteorol. Oceanogr., 9, 121–135, https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-9-121-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-9-121-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses tree-based machine learning (ML) to forecast PM2.5 in a complex terrain region. The models show the potential to predict pollution events with several hours of anticipation, and they integrate multiple sources of information, including in situ stations, satellite data, and deterministic model outputs. The importance analysis helps understand the processes affecting air quality in the region and highlights the relevance of external sources of pollution in PM2.5 predictability.
Richard J. Pope, Brian J. Kerridge, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Wuhu Feng, Matilda A. Pimlott, Sandip S. Dhomse, Christian Retscher, and Richard Rigby
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14933–14947, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14933-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14933-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ozone is a potent air pollutant, and we present the first study to investigate long-term changes in lower tropospheric column ozone (LTCO3) from space. We have constructed a merged LTCO3 dataset from GOME-1, SCIAMACHY and OMI between 1996 and 2017. Comparing LTCO3 between the 1996–2000 and 2013–2017 5-year averages, we find significant positive increases in the tropics/sub-tropics, while in the northern mid-latitudes, we find small-scale differences.
Richard J. Pope, Brian J. Kerridge, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Richard Siddans, Barry G. Latter, Lucy J. Ventress, Matilda A. Pimlott, Wuhu Feng, Edward Comyn-Platt, Garry D. Hayman, Stephen R. Arnold, and Ailish M. Graham
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13235–13253, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13235-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13235-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In the summer of 2018, Europe experienced several persistent large-scale ozone (O3) pollution episodes. Satellite tropospheric O3 and surface O3 data recorded substantial enhancements in 2018 relative to other years. Targeted model simulations showed that meteorological processes and emissions controlled the elevated surface O3, while mid-tropospheric O3 enhancements were dominated by stratospheric O3 intrusion and advection of North Atlantic O3-rich air masses into Europe.
Michael P. Cartwright, Richard J. Pope, Jeremy J. Harrison, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Chris Wilson, Wuhu Feng, David P. Moore, and Parvadha Suntharalingam
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10035–10056, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10035-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10035-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A 3-D chemical transport model, TOMCAT, is used to simulate global atmospheric carbonyl sulfide (OCS) distribution. Modelled OCS compares well with satellite observations of OCS from limb-sounding satellite observations. Model simulations also compare adequately with surface and atmospheric observations and suitably capture the seasonality of OCS and background concentrations.
Antonio G. Bruno, Jeremy J. Harrison, Martyn P. Chipperfield, David P. Moore, Richard J. Pope, Christopher Wilson, Emmanuel Mahieu, and Justus Notholt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4849–4861, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4849-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4849-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A 3-D chemical transport model, TOMCAT; satellite data; and ground-based observations have been used to investigate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) variability. We found that the oxidation by O(1D) drives the HCN loss in the middle stratosphere and the currently JPL-recommended OH reaction rate overestimates HCN atmospheric loss. We also evaluated two different ocean uptake schemes. We found them to be unrealistic, and we need to scale these schemes to obtain good agreement with HCN observations.
Matilda A. Pimlott, Richard J. Pope, Brian J. Kerridge, Barry G. Latter, Diane S. Knappett, Dwayne E. Heard, Lucy J. Ventress, Richard Siddans, Wuhu Feng, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10467–10488, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10467-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10467-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new method to derive global information of the hydroxyl radical (OH), an important atmospheric oxidant. OH controls the lifetime of trace gases important to air quality and climate. We use satellite observations of ozone, carbon monoxide, methane and water vapour in a simple expression to derive OH around 3–4 km altitude. The derived OH compares well to model and aircraft OH data. We then apply the method to 10 years of satellite data to study the inter-annual variability of OH.
Richard J. Pope, Rebecca Kelly, Eloise A. Marais, Ailish M. Graham, Chris Wilson, Jeremy J. Harrison, Savio J. A. Moniz, Mohamed Ghalaieny, Steve R. Arnold, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4323–4338, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4323-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4323-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are potent air pollutants which directly impact on human health. In this study, we use satellite nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data to evaluate the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the UK official NOx emissions inventory, with reasonable agreement. We also derived satellite-based NOx emissions for several UK cities. In the case of London and Birmingham, the NAEI NOx emissions are potentially too low by >50%.
Catherine Hardacre, Jane P. Mulcahy, Richard J. Pope, Colin G. Jones, Steven T. Rumbold, Can Li, Colin Johnson, and Steven T. Turnock
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 18465–18497, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18465-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18465-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate UKESM1's ability to represent the sulfur (S) cycle in the recent historical period. The S cycle is a key driver of historical radiative forcing. Earth system models such as UKESM1 should represent the S cycle well so that we can have confidence in their projections of future climate. We compare UKESM1 to observations of sulfur compounds, finding that the model generally performs well. We also identify areas for UKESM1’s development, focussing on how SO2 is removed from the air.
Johannes de Leeuw, Anja Schmidt, Claire S. Witham, Nicolas Theys, Isabelle A. Taylor, Roy G. Grainger, Richard J. Pope, Jim Haywood, Martin Osborne, and Nina I. Kristiansen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10851–10879, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10851-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10851-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Using the NAME dispersion model in combination with high-resolution SO2 satellite data from TROPOMI, we investigate the dispersion of volcanic SO2 from the 2019 Raikoke eruption. NAME accurately simulates the dispersion of SO2 during the first 2–3 weeks after the eruption and illustrates the potential of using high-resolution satellite data to identify potential limitations in dispersion models, which will ultimately help to improve efforts to forecast the dispersion of volcanic clouds.
Akash Biswal, Vikas Singh, Shweta Singh, Amit P. Kesarkar, Khaiwal Ravindra, Ranjeet S. Sokhi, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Sandip S. Dhomse, Richard J. Pope, Tanbir Singh, and Suman Mor
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 5235–5251, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5235-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5235-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite and surface observations show a reduction in NO2 levels over India during the lockdown compared to business-as-usual years. A substantial reduction, proportional to the population, was observed over the urban areas. The changes in NO2 levels at the surface during the lockdown appear to be present in the satellite observations. However, TROPOMI showed a better correlation with surface NO2 and was more sensitive to the changes than OMI because of the finer resolution.
Thomas Thorp, Stephen R. Arnold, Richard J. Pope, Dominick V. Spracklen, Luke Conibear, Christoph Knote, Mikhail Arshinov, Boris Belan, Eija Asmi, Tuomas Laurila, Andrei I. Skorokhod, Tuomo Nieminen, and Tuukka Petäjä
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 4677–4697, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4677-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4677-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We compare modelled near-surface pollutants with surface and satellite observations to better understand the controls on the regional concentrations of pollution in western Siberia for late spring and summer in 2011. We find two commonly used emission inventories underestimate human emissions when compared to observations. Transport emissions are the main source of pollutants within the region during this period, whilst fire emissions peak during June and are only significant south of 60° N.
Matthew J. Rowlinson, Alexandru Rap, Douglas S. Hamilton, Richard J. Pope, Stijn Hantson, Steve R. Arnold, Jed O. Kaplan, Almut Arneth, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Piers M. Forster, and Lars Nieradzik
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 10937–10951, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-10937-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-10937-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Tropospheric ozone is an important greenhouse gas which contributes to anthropogenic climate change; however, the effect of human emissions is uncertain because pre-industrial ozone concentrations are not well understood. We use revised inventories of pre-industrial natural emissions to estimate the human contribution to changes in tropospheric ozone. We find that tropospheric ozone radiative forcing is up to 34 % lower when using improved pre-industrial biomass burning and vegetation emissions.
Yajuan Li, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Wuhu Feng, Sandip S. Dhomse, Richard J. Pope, Faquan Li, and Dong Guo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 8627–8639, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8627-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The Tibetan Plateau (TP) exerts important thermal and dynamical effects on atmospheric circulation, climate change as well as the ozone distribution. In this study, we use updated observations and model simulations to investigate the ozone trends and variations over the TP. Wintertime TP ozone variations are largely controlled by tropical to high-latitude transport processes, whereas summertime concentrations are a combined effect of photochemical decay and tropical processes.
Alexander T. Archibald, Fiona M. O'Connor, Nathan Luke Abraham, Scott Archer-Nicholls, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Mohit Dalvi, Gerd A. Folberth, Fraser Dennison, Sandip S. Dhomse, Paul T. Griffiths, Catherine Hardacre, Alan J. Hewitt, Richard S. Hill, Colin E. Johnson, James Keeble, Marcus O. Köhler, Olaf Morgenstern, Jane P. Mulcahy, Carlos Ordóñez, Richard J. Pope, Steven T. Rumbold, Maria R. Russo, Nicholas H. Savage, Alistair Sellar, Marc Stringer, Steven T. Turnock, Oliver Wild, and Guang Zeng
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 1223–1266, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-1223-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-1223-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Here we present a description and evaluation of the UKCA stratosphere–troposphere chemistry scheme (StratTrop vn 1.0) implemented in the UK Earth System Model (UKESM1). UKCA StratTrop represents a substantial step forward compared to previous versions of UKCA. We show here that it is fully suited to the challenges of representing interactions in a coupled Earth system model and identify key areas and components for future development that will make it even better in the future.
Mateo Duque-Villegas, Juan Fernando Salazar, and Angela Maria Rendón
Earth Syst. Dynam., 10, 631–650, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-10-631-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-10-631-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Earth's climate can be studied as a system with different components that can be strongly altered by human influence. One possibility is that the El Niño phenomenon becomes more frequent. We investigated the potential impacts of the most frequent El Niño: a permanent one. The most noticeable impacts include variations in global water availability and vegetation productivity, potential dieback of the Amazon rainforest, greening of western North America, and further aridification of Australia.
Matthew J. Rowlinson, Alexandru Rap, Stephen R. Arnold, Richard J. Pope, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Joe McNorton, Piers Forster, Hamish Gordon, Kirsty J. Pringle, Wuhu Feng, Brian J. Kerridge, Barry L. Latter, and Richard Siddans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 8669–8686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-8669-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-8669-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Wildfires and meteorology have a substantial effect on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases such as methane and ozone. During the 1997 El Niño event, unusually large fire emissions indirectly increased global methane through carbon monoxide emission, which decreased the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere. There were also large regional changes to tropospheric ozone concentrations, but contrasting effects of fire and meteorology resulted in a small change to global radiative forcing.
Richard J. Pope, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Stephen R. Arnold, Norbert Glatthor, Wuhu Feng, Sandip S. Dhomse, Brian J. Kerridge, Barry G. Latter, and Richard Siddans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 8389–8408, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-8389-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-8389-2018, 2018
Juan Fernando Salazar, Juan Camilo Villegas, Angela María Rendón, Estiven Rodríguez, Isabel Hoyos, Daniel Mercado-Bettín, and Germán Poveda
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1735–1748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1735-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1735-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
River flow regimes are being altered by global change. Understanding the mechanisms behind such alterations is crucial for hydrological prediction. We introduce a novel interpretation of river flow metrics (scaling) that allows any river basin to be classified as regulated or unregulated, and to identify transitions between these states. We propose the
forest reservoirhypothesis to explain how forest loss can force the Amazonian river basins from regulated to unregulated states.
Sarah A. Monks, Stephen R. Arnold, Michael J. Hollaway, Richard J. Pope, Chris Wilson, Wuhu Feng, Kathryn M. Emmerson, Brian J. Kerridge, Barry L. Latter, Georgina M. Miles, Richard Siddans, and Martyn P. Chipperfield
Geosci. Model Dev., 10, 3025–3057, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-3025-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-3025-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The TOMCAT chemical transport model has been updated with the chemical degradation of ethene, propene, toluene, butane and monoterpenes. The tropospheric chemical mechanism is documented and the model is evaluated against surface, balloon, aircraft and satellite data. The model is generally able to capture the main spatial and seasonal features of carbon monoxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds and reactive nitrogen. However,
some model biases are found that require further investigation.
Richard J. Pope, Nigel A. D. Richards, Martyn P. Chipperfield, David P. Moore, Sarah A. Monks, Stephen R. Arnold, Norbert Glatthor, Michael Kiefer, Tom J. Breider, Jeremy J. Harrison, John J. Remedios, Carsten Warneke, James M. Roberts, Glenn S. Diskin, Lewis G. Huey, Armin Wisthaler, Eric C. Apel, Peter F. Bernath, and Wuhu Feng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 13541–13559, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13541-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13541-2016, 2016
R. J. Pope, N. H. Savage, M. P. Chipperfield, C. Ordóñez, and L. S. Neal
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 11201–11215, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11201-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11201-2015, 2015
R. J. Pope, M. P. Chipperfield, N. H. Savage, C. Ordóñez, L. S. Neal, L. A. Lee, S. S. Dhomse, N. A. D. Richards, and T. D. Keslake
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 5611–5626, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5611-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5611-2015, 2015
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
On the presence of high nitrite (NO2-) in coarse particles at Mt. Qomolangma
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.
Zhongyi Zhang, Chunxiang Ye, Yichao Wu, Tao Zhou, Pengfei Chen, Shichang Kang, Chong Zhang, Zhuang Jiang, and Lei Geng
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4165, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study reveals unexpectedly high levels of particulate nitrite at the Base Camp of Mt. Qomolangma, which overwhelmingly exists in coarse mode, and demonstrates that lofted surface soil contributes to the high levels of nitrite. Once lofted into atmosphere, the soil-derived nitrite is likely to participate in atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycling through gas-particle partitioning or photolysis, leading to the production of HONO, OH and NO and thereby influencing oxidation chemistry.
Cited articles
Achilleos, S., Mouzourides, P., Kalivitis, N., Katra, I., Kloog, I., Kouis, P., Middleton, N., Mihalopoulos, N., Neophytou, M., Panayiotou, A., Papatheodorou, S., Savvides, C., Tymvios, F., Vasiliadou, E., Yiallouros, P., and Koutrakis, P.: Spatio-temporal variability of desert dust storms in Eastern Mediterranean (Crete, Cyprus, Israel) between 2006 and 2017 using a uniform methodology, Sci. Total Environ., 714, 136693, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136693, 2020. a
Allajbeu, S., Qarri, F., Marku, E., Bekteshi, L., Ibro, V., Frontasyeva, M. V., Stafilov, T., and Lazo, P.: Contamination scale of atmospheric deposition for assessing air quality in Albania evaluated from most toxic heavy metal and moss biomonitoring, Air Qual. Atmos. Hlth., 10, 587–599, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-016-0453-9, 2017. a
Andreae, M. O., Andreae, T. W., Annegarn, H., Beer, J., Cachier, H., Le Canut, P., Elbert, W., Maenhaut, W., Salma, I., Wienhold, F. G., and Zenker, T.: Airborne studies of aerosol emissions from savanna fires in southern Africa: 2. Aerosol chemical composition, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 103, 32119–32128, https://doi.org/10.1029/98JD02280, 1998. a
Arregocés, H. A., Rojano, R., and Restrepo, G.: Health risk assessment for particulate matter: application of AirQ+ model in the northern Caribbean region of Colombia, Air Qual. Atmos. Hlth., 16, 897–912, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01304-5, 2023. a, b
AS/NZS: Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air – Method 9.14: Determination of suspended particulate matter – PM2.5 high volume sampler with size selective inlet – Gravimetric method, Standards New Zeland, https://www.standards.govt.nz/shop/asnzs-3580-9-142013/ (last access: 1 October 2024), 2013. a
Aymoz, G., Jaffrezo, J.-L., Jacob, V., Colomb, A., and George, Ch.: Evolution of organic and inorganic components of aerosol during a Saharan dust episode observed in the French Alps, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 2499–2512, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-4-2499-2004, 2004. a
Ballesteros González, K.: Assessing the effects of medium-range transport of biomass burning aerosols on air quality in Northern South America through chemical transport modelling, PhD thesis, Universidad del los Andes, https://doi.org/10.57784/1992/52989, 2021. a, b, c
Ballesteros-González, K., Sullivan, A. P., and Morales-Betancourt, R.: Estimating the air quality and health impacts of biomass burning in northern South America using a chemical transport model, Sci. Total Environ., 739, 139755, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139755, 2020. a, b, c
Bedoya, A., Nisperuza, D., Alegría, D., Múnera, M., Guerrero-Rascado, J. L., Zapata, C. E., Jiménez, J. F., Landulfo, E., and Bastidas, Á.: Strong Saharan Dust Event Detected at Lalinet LOA-UNAL Station, over Medellín, Colombia by Active and Passive Remote Sensing, EPJ Web Conf., 119, 08006, https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201611908006, 2016. a
Bia, G., Borgnino, L., Zampieri, G., and Garcia, M.: Fluorine surface speciation in South Andean volcanic ashes, Chem. Geol., 532, 119402, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119402, 2020. a
Bolaño-Díaz, S., Camargo-Caicedo, Y., Soro, T. D., N'Dri, A. B., and Bolaño-Ortiz, T. R.: Spatio-Temporal Characterization of Fire Using MODIS Data (2000–2020) in Colombia, Fire, 5, 134, https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050134, 2022. a
Bolaño-Ortiz, T. R., Constante-Ballestas, J. I., Puliafito, S. E., Vélez-Pereira, A. M., Tovar-Bernal, F. A., and Camargo-Caicedo, Y.: Spread COVID-19 during Godzilla African dust in June 2020 on the Colombian Caribbean region, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 14, 101860, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2023.101860, 2023a. a
Bolaño-Ortiz, T. R., Díaz-Gutiérrez, V. L., Vélez-Pereira, A. M., Vergara-Vásquez, E. L., and Camargo-Caicedo, Y.: Snow Albedo Reduction in the Colombian Andes Mountains Due to 2000 to 2020 Saharan Dust Intrusions Events, Water, 15, 3150, https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173150, 2023b. a
Boyd, P. W. and Ellwood, M. J.: The biogeochemical cycle of iron in the ocean, Nat. Geosci., 3, 675–682, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo964, 2010. a
Briffa, J., Sinagra, E., and Blundell, R.: Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans, Heliyon, 6, e04691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691, 2020. a
Callén, M., de la Cruz, M., López, J., Navarro, M., and Mastral, A.: Comparison of receptor models for source apportionment of the PM10 in Zaragoza (Spain), Chemosphere, 76, 1120–1129, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.04.015, 2009. a
CAMS: CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4), CAMS Atmosphere Data Store [data set], https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/datasets/cams-global-reanalysis-eac4 (last access: 1 October 2024), 2020. a
CAMS: Global atmospheric composition forecast data documentation, https://confluence.ecmwf.int/display/CKB/CAMS%3A+Global+atmospheric+composition+forecast+data+documentation#heading-Satelliteobservations (last access: 1 October 2024), 2023. a
Carn, S., Krueger, A., Arellano, S., Krotkov, N., and Yang, K.: Daily monitoring of Ecuadorian volcanic degassing from space, J. Volcanol. Geoth. Res., 176, 141–150, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.01.029, 2008. a, b
Carn, S., Clarisse, L., and Prata, A.: Multi-decadal satellite measurements of global volcanic degassing, J. Volcanol. Geoth. Res., 311, 99–134, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.01.002, 2016. a
Casallas, A., Castillo-Camacho, M. P., Guevara-Luna, M. A., González, Y., Sanchez, E., and Belalcazar, L. C.: Spatio-temporal analysis of PM2.5 and policies in Northwestern South America, Sci. Total Environ., 852, 158504, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158504, 2022. a
Casallas, A., Cabrera, A., Guevara-Luna, M.-A., Tompkins, A., González, Y., Aranda, J., Belalcazar, L. C., Mogollon-Sotelo, C., Celis, N., Lopez-Barrera, E., Peña-Rincon, C. A., and Ferro, C.: Air pollution analysis in Northwestern South America: A new Lagrangian framework, Sci. Total Environ., 906, 167350, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167350, 2024. a, b, c
Choobari, O. A., Zawar-Reza, P., and Sturman, A.: The global distribution of mineral dust and its impacts on the climate system: A review, Atmos. Res., 138, 152–165, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2013.11.007, 2014. a
Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Kuhns, H., Etyemezian, V., Lowenthal, D. H., Crow, D., Kohl, S. D., Engelbrecht, J. P., and Green, M. C.: Source profiles for industrial, mobile, and area sources in the Big Bend Regional Aerosol Visibility and Observational study, Chemosphere, 54, 185–208, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2003.07.004, 2004. a
Cuesta-Mosquera, A. P., Wahl, M., Acosta-López, J. G., García-Reynoso, J. A., and Aristizábal-Zuluaga, B. H.: Mixing layer height and slope wind oscillation: Factors that control ambient air SO2 in a tropical mountain city, Sustain. Cities Soc., 52, 101852, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101852, 2020. a
Dai, Q., Hopke, P. K., Bi, X., and Feng, Y.: Improving apportionment of PM2.5 using multisite PMF by constraining G-values with a prioriinformation, Sci. Total Environ., 736, 139657, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139657, 2020. a
Delmelle, P., Maters, E. C., Calkins, J. A., Gaspard, F., Opfergelt, S., and Jenkins, S. F.: Eruptive style controls the formation of silicon hexafluoride salts on volcanic ash: The case of the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland, Chem. Geol., 579, 120327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120327, 2021. a
Dong, X., Fu, J. S., Zhu, Q., Sun, J., Tan, J., Keating, T., Sekiya, T., Sudo, K., Emmons, L., Tilmes, S., Jonson, J. E., Schulz, M., Bian, H., Chin, M., Davila, Y., Henze, D., Takemura, T., Benedictow, A. M. K., and Huang, K.: Long-range transport impacts on surface aerosol concentrations and the contributions to haze events in China: an HTAP2 multi-model study, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 15581–15600, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-15581-2018, 2018. a
Echeverri, A. and Orsini, F.: Informalidad y urbanismo social en Medellín, EAFIT, https://www.eafit.edu.co/centros/urbam/articulos-publicaciones/Documents/111103_RS3_AEcheverri_%20P%2011-24.pdf (last access: 1 October 2024), 2011. a
Eugene Kim, P. K. H. and Edgerton, E. S.: Source Identification of Atlanta Aerosol by Positive Matrix Factorization, J. Air Waste Manage., 53, 731–739, https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2003.10466209, 2003. a
Eugene Kim, P. K. H. and Qin, Y.: Estimation of Organic Carbon Blank Values and Error Structures of the Speciation Trends Network Data for Source Apportionment, J. Air Waste Manage., 55, 1190–1199, https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2005.10464705, 2005. a
Feng, J., Song, N., and Li, Y.: An in-depth investigation of the influence of sample size on PCA-MLR, PMF, and FA-NNC source apportionment results, Environ. Geochem. Hlth., 45, 5841–5855, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-023-01598-5, 2023. a
Fioletov, V. E., McLinden, C. A., Krotkov, N., Li, C., Joiner, J., Theys, N., Carn, S., and Moran, M. D.: A global catalogue of large SO2 sources and emissions derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11497–11519, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11497-2016, 2016. a
Fioletov, V. E., McLinden, C. A., Griffin, D., Abboud, I., Krotkov, N., Leonard, P. J. T., Li, C., Joiner, J., Theys, N., and Carn, S.: Version 2 of the global catalogue of large anthropogenic and volcanic SO2 sources and emissions derived from satellite measurements, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 75–93, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-75-2023, 2023. a
García, J., Posada, C., and Corrales, A.: Congestión vehicular en medellín una posible solución desde la economía, Coyuntura Económica, 46, 175–207, https://www.repository.fedesarrollo.org.co/bitstream/handle/11445/3349/Co_Eco_Garcia_Posada_y_Corrales.pdf (last access: 2 October 2024), 2016. a
GHYGAM: PM2.5 Chemical characterisation campaign at Medellín from April 2019 to October 2022, Version v2.0.0, Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13891195, 2024. a
Gómez-Marín, M., Yepes, D. L., Patiño, K., Grajales, D., Tavera, J., and Vergara-Correa, J. A.: Convenio interadministrativo 671 de 2021, AMVA-PCJIC, https://www.metropol.gov.co/ambiental/calidad-del-aire/Biblioteca-aire/Estudios-calidad-del-aire/Informe-Final-Caracterizacion-Fase-IV.pdf (last access: 1 October 2024), 2021. a, b, c, d
Gómez Peláez, L. M., Santos, J. M., de Almeida Albuquerque, T. T., Reis, N. C., Andreão, W. L., and de Fátima Andrade, M.: Air quality status and trends over large cities in South America, Environ. Sci. Policy, 114, 422–435, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.09.009, 2020. a, b
Granier, C., Darras, S., van Der Gon, H. D., Jana, D., Elguindi, N., Bo, G., Michael, G., Marc, G., Jalkanen, J.-P., Kuenen, J., Liousse, C., Quack, B., Simpson, D., and Sindelarova, K.: The Copernicus atmosphere monitoring service global and regional emissions (April 2019 version), https://doi.org/10.24380/d0bn-kx16, 2019. a
Haghnazar, H., Johannesson, K. H., González-Pinzón, R., Pourakbar, M., Aghayani, E., Rajabi, A., and Hashemi, A. A.: Groundwater geochemistry, quality, and pollution of the largest lake basin in the Middle East: Comparison of PMF and PCA-MLR receptor models and application of the source-oriented HHRA approach, Chemosphere, 288, 132489, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132489, 2022. a
Hamburger, T., Matisāns, M., Tunved, P., Ström, J., Calderon, S., Hoffmann, P., Hochschild, G., Gross, J., Schmeissner, T., Wiedensohler, A., and Krejci, R.: Long-term in situ observations of biomass burning aerosol at a high altitude station in Venezuela – sources, impacts and interannual variability, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 9837–9853, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9837-2013, 2013. a, b, c, d
Henao, J. J., Mejía, J. F., Rendón, A. M., and Salazar, J. F.: Sub-kilometer dispersion simulation of a CO tracer for an inter-Andean urban valley, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 11, 928–945, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2020.02.005, 2020. a
Henao, J. J., Rendón, A. M., Hernández, K. S., Giraldo-Ramirez, P. A., Robledo, V., Posada-Marín, J. A., Bernal, N., Salazar, J. F., and Mejía, J. F.: Differential Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown and Regional Fire on the Air Quality of Medellín, Colombia, Atmosphere, 12, 1137, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091137, 2021. a, b, c, d, e
Hernandez, A. J., Morales-Rincon, L. A., Wu, D., Mallia, D., Lin, J. C., and Jimenez, R.: Transboundary transport of biomass burning aerosols and photochemical pollution in the Orinoco River Basin, Atmos. Environ., 205, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.01.051, 2019. a, b
Hernández, K. S., Henao, J. J., and Rendón, A. M.: Dispersion simulations in an Andean city: Role of continuous traffic data in the spatio-temporal distribution of traffic emissions, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 13, 101361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2022.101361, 2022. a
Herrera-Mejía, L. and Hoyos, C. D.: Characterization of the atmospheric boundary layer in a narrow tropical valley using remote-sensing and radiosonde observations and the WRF model: the Aburrá Valley case-study, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 145, 2641–2665, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3583, 2019. a
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Hirahara, S., Horányi, A., Muñoz-Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Abdalla, S., Abellan, X., Balsamo, G., Bechtold, P., Biavati, G., Bidlot, J., Bonavita, M., Chiara, G. D., Dahlgren, P., Dee, D., Diamantakis, M., Dragani, R., Flemming, J., Forbes, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A., Haimberger, L., Healy, S., Hogan, R. J., Hólm, E., Janisková, M., Keeley, S., Laloyaux, P., Lopez, P., Lupu, C., Radnoti, G., de Rosnay, P., Rozum, I., Vamborg, F., Villaume, S., and Thépaut, J.: The ERA5 global reanalysis, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 146, 1999–2049, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3803, 2020. a
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Biavati, G., Horányi, A., Muñoz Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Rozum, I., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Dee, D., and Thépaut, J.-N.: ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store (CDS) [data set], https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6, 2023. a
Hoyos, C. D., Ceballos, L. I., Pérez-Carrasquilla, J. S., Sepúlveda, J., López-Zapata, S. M., Zuluaga, M. D., Velásquez, N., Herrera-Mejía, L., Hernández, O., Guzmán-Echavarría, G., and Zapata, M.: Meteorological conditions leading to the 2015 Salgar flash flood: lessons for vulnerable regions in tropical complex terrain, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2635–2665, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2635-2019, 2019. a
Huffman, G., Stocker, E., Bolvin, D., Nelkin, E., and Tan, J.: GPM IMERG Final Precipitation L3 1 day 0.1 degree × 0.1 degree V06, edited by: Savtchenko, A., Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), Greenbelt, MD, https://doi.org/10.5067/GPM/IMERGDF/DAY/06, 2019. a
Huffman, G. J., Stocker, E. F., Bolvin, D. T., Nelkin, E. J., and Tan, J.: GPM IMERG Final Precipitation L3 Half Hourly 0.1 degree x 0.1 degree V07, Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) [data set], https://doi.org/10.5067/GPM/IMERG/3B-HH/07, 2023. a
Huntzicker, J. J., Heyerdahl, E. K., McDow, S. R., Rau, J. A., Griest, W. H., and MacDougall, C. S.: Combustion as the Principal Source of Carbonaceous Aerosol in the Ohio River Valley, JAPCA J. Air Waste Ma., 36, 705–709, https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1986.10466105, 1986. a
Hwang, S.-H., Lee, J. Y., Yi, S.-M., and Kim, H.: Associations of particulate matter and its components with emergency room visits for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, PLoS One, 12, e0183224, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183224, 2017. a
Inness, A., Ades, M., Agustí-Panareda, A., Barré, J., Benedictow, A., Blechschmidt, A.-M., Dominguez, J. J., Engelen, R., Eskes, H., Flemming, J., Huijnen, V., Jones, L., Kipling, Z., Massart, S., Parrington, M., Peuch, V.-H., Razinger, M., Remy, S., Schulz, M., and Suttie, M.: The CAMS reanalysis of atmospheric composition, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 3515–3556, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-3515-2019, 2019. a, b, c
Jayarathne, T., Stockwell, C. E., Yokelson, R. J., Nakao, S., and Stone, E. A.: Emissions of Fine Particle Fluoride from Biomass Burning, Environ. Sci. Technol., 48, 12636–12644, https://doi.org/10.1021/es502933j, 2014. a, b
Jiao, Y., Su, M., Ji, C., Yang, S., and Zhang, P.: How to design fully cooperative policies to abate transboundary air pollution between two highly asymmetric regions: An abnormal incrementalism analysis, J. Clean. Prod., 278, 124042, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124042, 2021. a
Kaiser, J. W., Heil, A., Andreae, M. O., Benedetti, A., Chubarova, N., Jones, L., Morcrette, J.-J., Razinger, M., Schultz, M. G., Suttie, M., and van der Werf, G. R.: Biomass burning emissions estimated with a global fire assimilation system based on observed fire radiative power, Biogeosciences, 9, 527–554, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-9-527-2012, 2012. a
Kaneyasu, N., Yamamoto, S., Sato, K., Takami, A., Hayashi, M., Hara, K., Kawamoto, K., Okuda, T., and Hatakeyama, S.: Impact of long-range transport of aerosols on the PM2.5 composition at a major metropolitan area in the northern Kyushu area of Japan, Atmos. Environ., 97, 416–425, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.01.029, 2014. a
Kaspari, S., Painter, T. H., Gysel, M., Skiles, S. M., and Schwikowski, M.: Seasonal and elevational variations of black carbon and dust in snow and ice in the Solu-Khumbu, Nepal and estimated radiative forcings, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 8089–8103, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-8089-2014, 2014. a
Kulshrestha, U. and Kumar, B.: Airmass Trajectories and Long Range Transport of Pollutants: Review of Wet Deposition Scenario in South Asia, Adv. Meteorol., 2014, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/596041, 2014. a
Kumar, A., Abouchami, W., Galer, S., Garrison, V., Williams, E., and Andreae, M.: A radiogenic isotope tracer study of transatlantic dust transport from Africa to the Caribbean, Atmos. Environ., 82, 130–143, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.10.021, 2014. a
Liang, C.-K., West, J. J., Silva, R. A., Bian, H., Chin, M., Davila, Y., Dentener, F. J., Emmons, L., Flemming, J., Folberth, G., Henze, D., Im, U., Jonson, J. E., Keating, T. J., Kucsera, T., Lenzen, A., Lin, M., Lund, M. T., Pan, X., Park, R. J., Pierce, R. B., Sekiya, T., Sudo, K., and Takemura, T.: HTAP2 multi-model estimates of premature human mortality due to intercontinental transport of air pollution and emission sectors, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10497–10520, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10497-2018, 2018. a
Lin, P., Hu, M., Deng, Z., Slanina, J., Han, S., Kondo, Y., Takegawa, N., Miyazaki, Y., Zhao, Y., and Sugimoto, N.: Seasonal and diurnal variations of organic carbon in PM2.5 in Beijing and the estimation of secondary organic carbon, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 114, D00G11, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010902, 2009. a
Lippmann, M., Chen, L.-C., Gordon, T., Ito, K., and Thurston, G. D.: National Particle Component Toxicity (NPACT) Initiative: integrated epidemiologic and toxicologic studies of the health effects of particulate matter components, Research report, Health Effects Institute, 5–13, PMID: 24377209, 2013. a
Liu, J., Li, J., and Yao, F.: Source-receptor relationship of transboundary particulate matter pollution between China, South Korea and Japan: Approaches, current understanding and limitations, Crit. Rev. Env. Sci. Tec., 52, 3896–3920, https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2021.1964308, 2022. a
Malaguti, A., Mircea, M., La Torretta, T. M., Telloli, C., Petralia, E., Stracquadanio, M., and Berico, M.: Chemical Composition of Fine and Coarse Aerosol Particles in the Central Mediterranean Area during Dust and Non-Dust Conditions, Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 15, 410–425, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2014.08.0172, 2015. a, b, c
Malandrino, P., Russo, M., Gianì, F., Pellegriti, G., Vigneri, P., Belfiore, A., Rizzarelli, E., and Vigneri, R.: Increased Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Volcanic Areas: A Role of Increased Heavy Metals in the Environment?, Int. J. Mol. Sci., 21, 3425, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103425, 2020. a
Manousakas, M., Papaefthymiou, H., Diapouli, E., Migliori, A., Karydas, A., Bogdanovic-Radovic, I., and Eleftheriadis, K.: Assessment of PM2.5 sources and their corresponding level of uncertainty in a coastal urban area using EPA PMF 5.0 enhanced diagnostics, Sci. Total Environ., 574, 155–164, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.047, 2017. a
Martin, R., Ilyinskaya, E., and Oppenheimer, C.: The enigma of reactive nitrogen in volcanic emissions, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 95, 93–105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.07.027, 2012. a
Martinez-Verduzco, R., Reyna-Gomez, L., Cruz-López, A., Carrillo-Avila, J., Valdez-Cavazos, A., and Suárez-Vázquez, S.: Approach into the influence of Saharan dust on the physicochemical properties of PM2.5 in Monterrey, México, Int. J. Environ. Sci. Te., 21, 2939–2952, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05121-2, 2023. a
Martinsson, B. G., Brenninkmeijer, C. A. M., Carn, S. A., Hermann, M., Heue, K.-P., van Velthoven, P. F. J., and Zahn, A.: Influence of the 2008 Kasatochi volcanic eruption on sulfurous and carbonaceous aerosol constituents in the lower stratosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L12813, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL038735, 2009. a
Mason, E., Wieser, P. E., Liu, E. J., Edmonds, M., Ilyinskaya, E., Whitty, R. C. W., Mather, T. A., Elias, T., Nadeau, P. A., Wilkes, T. C., McGonigle, A. J. S., Pering, T. D., Mims, F. M., Kern, C., Schneider, D. J., and Oppenheimer, C.: Volatile metal emissions from volcanic degassing and lava–seawater interactions at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i, Communications Earth & Environment, 2, 79, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00145-3, 2021. a
Mendez Espinosa, J., Herrera, L., and Belalcazar, L.: Study of a Saharan Dust Intrusion into the Colombian Atmosphere/Estudio de una intrusión de polvo sahariano en la atmósfera de Colombia, Revista Ingenierías Universidad de Medellín, 17, 17–34, https://doi.org/10.22395/rium.v17n32a1, 2018. a, b, c
Mendez-Espinosa, J. F., Rojas, N. Y., Vargas, J., Pachón, J. E., Belalcazar, L. C., and Ramírez, O.: Air quality variations in Northern South America during the COVID-19 lockdown, Sci. Total Environ., 749, 141621, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141621, 2020. a, b
MinAmbiente-Colombia: Manual de Diseñol de Sistemas de Vigilancia de la Calidad del Aire, https://www.minambiente.gov.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Protocolo_Calidad_del_Aire_-_Manual_Diseno.pdf (last access: 1 October 2024), 2010. a
Miranda, J., Zepeda, F., and Galindo, I.: The possible influence of volcanic emissions on atmospheric aerosols in the city of Colima, Mexico, Environ. Pollut., 127, 271–279, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(03)00265-3, 2004. a
Misra, A., Tripathi, S., Sembhi, H., and Boesch, H.: Validation of CAMS AOD using AERONET Data and Trend Analysis at Four Locations in the Indo-Gangetic Basin, Ann. Geophys. Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2020-40, 2020. a
Miyakawa, T., Takegawa, N., and Kondo, Y.: Removal of sulfur dioxide and formation of sulfate aerosol in Tokyo, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 112, D13209, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007896, 2007. a
Moran-Zuloaga, D., Merchan-Merchan, W., Rodriguez-Caballero, E., Mulas, M., and Hernick, P.: Long-range transport and microscopy analysis of Sangay volcanic ashes in Ecuador, Air Qual. Atmos. Hlth., 17, 155–175, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01434-w, 2024. a, b
Moreno, C. I., Krejci, R., Jaffrezo, J.-L., Uzu, G., Alastuey, A., Andrade, M. F., Mardóñez, V., Koenig, A. M., Aliaga, D., Mohr, C., Ticona, L., Velarde, F., Blacutt, L., Forno, R., Whiteman, D. N., Wiedensohler, A., Ginot, P., and Laj, P.: Tropical tropospheric aerosol sources and chemical composition observed at high altitude in the Bolivian Andes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2837–2860, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2837-2024, 2024. a, b
NCEP–NCAR: Reanalisys 1, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory [data set], https://downloads.psl.noaa.gov/Datasets/ncep.reanalysis/pressure/ (last access: 1 October 2024), 2023. a
Nicolás, J., Chiari, M., Crespo, J., Orellana, I. G., Lucarelli, F., Nava, S., Pastor, C., and Yubero, E.: Quantification of Saharan and local dust impact in an arid Mediterranean area by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) technique, Atmos. Environ., 42, 8872–8882, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.018, 2008. a
Okin, G. S., Mahowald, N., Chadwick, O. A., and Artaxo, P.: Impact of desert dust on the biogeochemistry of phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 18, GB2005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GB002145, 2004. a
Paatero, P.: Least squares formulation of robust non-negative factor analysis, Chemometr. Intell. Lab., 37, 23–35, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7439(96)00044-5, 1997. a
Paatero, P. and Tapper, U.: Positive matrix factorization: A non-negative factor model with optimal utilization of error estimates of data values, Environmetrics, 5, 111–126, 1994. a
Pani, S. K., Chantara, S., Khamkaew, C., Lee, C.-T., and Lin, N.-H.: Biomass burning in the northern peninsular Southeast Asia: Aerosol chemical profile and potential exposure, Atmos. Res., 224, 180–195, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.03.031, 2019. a
Pérez-Carrasquilla, J. S., Montoya, P. A., Sánchez, J. M., Hernández, K. S., and Ramírez, M.: Forecasting 24 h averaged PM2.5 concentration in the Aburrá Valley using tree-based machine learning models, global forecasts, and satellite information, Adv. Stat. Clim. Meteorol. Oceanogr., 9, 121–135, https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-9-121-2023, 2023. a, b
Pongpiachan, S., Tipmanee, D., Choochuay, C., Hattayanone, M., Deelaman, W., Iadtem, N., Bunsomboonsakul, S., Palakun, J., Poshyachinda, S., Leckngam, A., Somboonpon, P., Panyaphirawat, T., Aukkaravittayapun, S., Wang, Q., Xing, L., Li, G., Han, Y., and Cao, J.: Vertical profile of organic and elemental carbon in sediments of Songkhla Lake, Thailand, Limnology, 20, 203–214, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-018-0568-9, 2019. a
Posada-Marín, J. A., Rendón, A. M., Salazar, J. F., Mejía, J. F., and Villegas, J. C.: WRF downscaling improves ERA-Interim representation of precipitation around a tropical Andean valley during El Niño: implications for GCM-scale simulation of precipitation over complex terrain, Clim. Dynam., 52, 3609–3629, 2019. a
Pouliot, G., Pierce, T., Denier van der Gon, H., Schaap, M., Moran, M., and Nopmongcol, U.: Comparing emission inventories and model-ready emission datasets between Europe and North America for the AQMEII project, Atmos. Environ., 53, 4–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.12.041, 2012. a
Prospero, J. M., Collard, F.-X., Molinié, J., and Jeannot, A.: Characterizing the annual cycle of African dust transport to the Caribbean Basin and South America and its impact on the environment and air quality, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 28, 757–773, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GB004802, 2014. a
Prospero, J. M., Barkley, A. E., Gaston, C. J., Gatineau, A., Campos y Sansano, A., and Panechou, K.: Characterizing and quantifying African dust transport and deposition to South America: Implications for the phosphorus budget in the Amazon Basin, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 34, e2020GB006536, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006536, 2020. a, b, c
Rastogi, N., Singh, A., Singh, D., and Sarin, M.: Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 at a source region of biomass burning emissions: Evidence for secondary aerosol formation, Environ. Pollut., 184, 563–569, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.09.037, 2014. a, b, c
Ridley, D. A., Heald, C. L., and Ford, B.: North African dust export and deposition: A satellite and model perspective, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 117, D02202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016794, 2012. a, b
Rincón-Riveros, J. M., Rincón-Caro, M. A., Sullivan, A. P., Mendez-Espinosa, J. F., Belalcazar, L. C., Quirama Aguilar, M., and Morales Betancourt, R.: Long-term brown carbon and smoke tracer observations in Bogotá, Colombia: association with medium-range transport of biomass burning plumes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 7459–7472, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-7459-2020, 2020. a, b, c
Roberts, T., Vignelles, D., Liuzzo, M., Giudice, G., Aiuppa, A., Coltelli, M., Salerno, G., Chartier, M., Couté, B., Berthet, G., Lurton, T., Dulac, F., and Renard, J.-B.: The primary volcanic aerosol emission from Mt Etna: Size-resolved particles with SO2 and role in plume reactive halogen chemistry, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 222, 74–93, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.09.040, 2018. a, b
Rodríguez-Gómez, C., Echeverry, G., Jaramillo, A., and Ladino, L. A.: The negative impact of biomass burning and the Orinoco low-level jet on the air quality of the Orinoco River Basin, Atmósfera, 35, 497–520, https://doi.org/10.20937/ATM.52979, 2022. a, b
Ruggieri, F., Fernandez-Turiel, J., Saavedra, J., Gimeno, D., Polanco, E., Amigo, A., Galindo, G., and Caselli, A.: Contribution of volcanic ashes to the regional geochemical balance: The 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano, Southern Chile, Sci. Total Environ., 425, 75–88, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.03.011, 2012. a
Salazar Hernandez, C., Vásquez, J., and Agudelo, N.: Perspectiva paisajística de la estructura ecológica urbana de Medellín, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, https://doi.org/10.18566/978-628-500-081-2, 2022. a
Salim, I., Sajjad, R. U., Paule-Mercado, M. C., Memon, S. A., Lee, B.-Y., Sukhbaatar, C., and Lee, C.-H.: Comparison of two receptor models PCA-MLR and PMF for source identification and apportionment of pollution carried by runoff from catchment and sub-watershed areas with mixed land cover in South Korea, Sci. Total Environ., 663, 764–775, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.377, 2019. a
Santín, C., Doerr, S. H., Kane, E. S., Masiello, C. A., Ohlson, M., de la Rosa, J. M., Preston, C. M., and Dittmar, T.: Towards a global assessment of pyrogenic carbon from vegetation fires, Global Change Biol., 22, 76–91, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12985, 2016. a
Shin, S. M., Kim, J. Y., Lee, J. Y., Kim, D.-S., and Kim, Y. P.: Enhancement of modeling performance by including organic markers to the PMF modeling for the PM2.5 at Seoul, Air Qual. Atmos. Hlth., 15, 91–104, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01087-7, 2022. a
SIATA: Seguimiento de los aerosoles y eventos externos que afectan la calidad del aire del Valle de Aburrá, AMVA-EAFIT, https://www.metropol.gov.co/ambiental/calidad-del-aire/Biblioteca-aire/Estudios-calidad-del-aire/Estudio-Fuentes-Externas-SIATA.pdf (last access: 30 September 2024), 2021. a, b, c, d
SIATA: Estaciones Calidad del Aire, SIATA [data set], https://siata.gov.co/descarga_siata/index.php/index2/login/cerrar_sesion (last access: 1 October 2024), 2024. a
Tasić, V., Jovašević-Stojanović, M., Vardoulakis, S., Milošević, N., Kovačević, R., and Petrović, J.: Comparative assessment of a real-time particle monitor against the reference gravimetric method for PM10 and PM2.5 in indoor air, Atmos. Environ., 54, 358–364, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.02.030, 2012. a
Tuomisto, J. T., Wilson, A., Evans, J. S., and Tainio, M.: Uncertainty in mortality response to airborne fine particulate matter: Combining European air pollution experts, Reliab. Eng. Syst. Safe., 93, 732–744, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2007.03.002, 2008. a, b
UN: Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution, https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Air.Pollution%20Studies.No_.17_100.pdf (last access: 30 September 2024), 2010. a
US-EPA: 40 CFR Appendix L to Part 50 – Reference Method for the Determination of Fine Particulate Matter as PM2.5 in the Atmosphere, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2017-title40-vol2/CFR-2017-title40-vol2-part50-appL/context (last access: 30 September 2024), 2011. a
Vanegas, S., Trejos, E. M., Aristizábal, B. H., Pereira, G. M., Hernández, J. M., Murillo, J. H., Ramírez, O., Amato, F., Silva, L. F. O., Rojas, N. Y., Zafra, C., and Pachón, J. E.: Spatial Distribution and Chemical Composition of Road Dust in Two High-Altitude Latin American Cities, Atmosphere, 12, 1109, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091109, 2021. a
Varrica, D., Tamburo, E., Vultaggio, M., and Di Carlo, I.: ATR–FTIR Spectral Analysis and Soluble Components of PM10 and PM2.5 Particulate Matter over the Urban Area of Palermo (Italy) during Normal Days and Saharan Events, Int. J. Env. Res. Pub. He., 16, 2507, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142507, 2019. a
Velásquez-García, M. P., Hernández, D. A., and Pérez-Carrasquilla, J. S.: Basic trajectories code in python (v2.0.0), Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13730208, 2024. a
Via, M., Chen, G., Canonaco, F., Daellenbach, K. R., Chazeau, B., Chebaicheb, H., Jiang, J., Keernik, H., Lin, C., Marchand, N., Marin, C., O'Dowd, C., Ovadnevaite, J., Petit, J.-E., Pikridas, M., Riffault, V., Sciare, J., Slowik, J. G., Simon, L., Vasilescu, J., Zhang, Y., Favez, O., Prévôt, A. S. H., Alastuey, A., and Cruz Minguillón, M.: Rolling vs. seasonal PMF: real-world multi-site and synthetic dataset comparison, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5479–5495, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5479-2022, 2022. a
Vigneri, R., Malandrino, P., Gianì, F., Russo, M., and Vigneri, P.: Heavy metals in the volcanic environment and thyroid cancer, Mol. Cell. Endocrinol., 457, 73–80, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2016.10.027, 2017. a
Wang, L., Liu, Z., Sun, Y., Ji, D., and Wang, Y.: Long-range transport and regional sources of PM2.5 in Beijing based on long-term observations from 2005 to 2010, Atmos. Res., 157, 37–48, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.12.003, 2015. a
Woo, J.-H., Kim, Y., Kim, H.-K., Choi, K.-C., Eum, J.-H., Lee, J.-B., Lim, J.-H., Kim, J., and Seong, M.: Development of the CREATE Inventory in Support of Integrated Climate and Air Quality Modeling for Asia, Sustainability, 12, 7930, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197930, 2020. a
Xie, W., You, J., Zhi, C., and Li, L.: The toxicity of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to vascular endothelial cells, J. Appl. Toxicol., 41, 713–723, https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.4138, 2021. a
Yao, L., Huo, J., Wang, D., Fu, Q., Sun, W., Li, Q., and Chen, J.: Online measurement of carbonaceous aerosols in suburban Shanghai during winter over a three-year period: Temporal variations, meteorological effects, and sources, Atmos. Environ., 226, 117408, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117408, 2020. a
Yu, J., Yan, C., Liu, Y., Li, X., Zhou, T., and Zheng, M.: Potassium: A Tracer for Biomass Burning in Beijing?, Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 18, 2447–2459, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.11.0536, 2018. a
Yu, W., Liu, R., Wang, J., Xu, F., and Shen, Z.: Source apportionment of PAHs in surface sediments using positive matrix factorization combined with GIS for the estuarine area of the Yangtze River, China, Chemosphere, 134, 263–271, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.049, 2015. a
Yuan, Y., Wu, Y., Ge, X., Nie, D., Wang, M., Zhou, H., and Chen, M.: In vitro toxicity evaluation of heavy metals in urban air particulate matter on human lung epithelial cells, Sci. Total Environ., 678, 301–308, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.431, 2019. a
Zhao, N., Dong, X., Huang, K., Fu, J. S., Lund, M. T., Sudo, K., Henze, D., Kucsera, T., Lam, Y. F., Chin, M., and Tilmes, S.: Responses of Arctic black carbon and surface temperature to multi-region emission reductions: a Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Phase 2 (HTAP2) ensemble modeling study, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8637–8654, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8637-2021, 2021. a
Zhong, L., Louie, P. K., Zheng, J., Yuan, Z., Yue, D., Ho, J. W., and Lau, A. K.: Science–policy interplay: Air quality management in the Pearl River Delta region and Hong Kong, Atmos. Environ., 76, 3–10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.03.012, 2013. a
Short summary
In the Aburrá Valley, northern South America, local emissions determine air quality conditions. However, we found that external sources, such as regional fires, Saharan dust, and volcanic emissions, increase particulate concentrations and worsen chemical composition by introducing elements like heavy metals. Dry winds and source variability contribute to seasonal influences on these events. This study assesses the air quality risks posed by such events, which can affect broad regions worldwide.
In the Aburrá Valley, northern South America, local emissions determine air quality conditions....
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint