Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1163-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-26-1163-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 23 Jan 2026
| 23 Jan 2026
Highly time-resolved chemical characteristics and aging process of submicron aerosols over the central Himalayas
Yishen Wang
School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Yanqing An
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yulong Tan
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Kemei Li
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Jianzhong Xu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Shugui Hou
School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Related authors
No articles found.
Qiuyu Li, Huanting Hu, Guitao Shi, Danhe Wang, Zhe Li, and Shugui Hou
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5800, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5800, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
Ancient air trapped in ice bubbles is a valuable archive for studying past climates. However, trapped air can be altered by gas loss through pumping in laboratory. We quantified the characteristics of this loss for the first time based on controlled ice pumping experiments. We discovered that O2 and Ar escape simultaneously through ice microcracks. Crucially, we found that gas loss corrections considering both O2 and Ar significantly reduced data scatter, recovering clearer climate signals.
Chunlei An, Su Jiang, Guitao Shi, Hongmei Ma, Chuanjin Li, Zhe Li, Xiaolong Li, Ye Hu, Yan Liu, Xiao Yan, Ningning Sun, Bo Zhang, Shugui Hou, and Yuansheng Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-769, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-769, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Climate of the Past (CP).
Short summary
Short summary
Volcanic eruptions can significantly affect the Earth's climate. Reconstructing past volcanic history can provide valuable information for climate modeling. Our study provides a new volcanic record from Dome A, the highest ice dome in Antarctica. Using this record and three other volcanic records from Antarctica, the prominent volcanic events, the change in volcanic frequency and flux, and the variation of snow accumulation rates at Dome A over the past 4000 years are investigated.
Kemei Li, Yanqing An, Jianzhong Xu, Miao Zhong, Wenhui Zhao, and Xiang Qin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 12433–12450, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12433-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12433-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a year-long PM2.5 study at Waliguan Baseline Observatory in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the optical properties of water-soluble brown carbon and its source. Our findings highlight that organic matter, sulfate, and nitrate are the dominant contributors to PM2.5 mass concentrations. Notable seasonal variations in the light absorption capacity of water-soluble brown carbon, accompanied by a high degree of oxidation are also observed.
Zehua Chang, Hongkai Gao, Leilei Yong, Kang Wang, Rensheng Chen, Chuntan Han, Otgonbayar Demberel, Batsuren Dorjsuren, Shugui Hou, and Zheng Duan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3897–3917, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3897-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3897-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
An integrated cryospheric–hydrologic model, FLEX-Cryo, was developed that considers glaciers, snow cover, and frozen soil and their dynamic impacts on hydrology. We utilized it to simulate future changes in cryosphere and hydrology in the Hulu catchment. Our projections showed the two glaciers will melt completely around 2050, snow cover will reduce, and permafrost will degrade. For hydrology, runoff will decrease after the glacier has melted, and permafrost degradation will increase baseflow.
Jianzhong Xu, Xinghua Zhang, Wenhui Zhao, Lixiang Zhai, Miao Zhong, Jinsen Shi, Junying Sun, Yanmei Liu, Conghui Xie, Yulong Tan, Kemei Li, Xinlei Ge, Qi Zhang, and Shichang Kang
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1875–1900, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1875-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1875-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A comprehensive aerosol observation project was carried out in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its surroundings in recent years to investigate the properties and sources of atmospheric aerosols as well as their regional differences by performing multiple intensive field observations. The release of this dataset can provide basic and systematic data for related research in the atmospheric, cryospheric, and environmental sciences in this unique region.
Miao Zhong, Jianzhong Xu, Huiqin Wang, Li Gao, Haixia Zhu, Lixiang Zhai, Xinghua Zhang, and Wenhui Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 12609–12630, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12609-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12609-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study focus on coal-combustion-dominated aerosol in urban areas in northwestern China and combines the results of optical measurement and chemical analysis to deduce the evolution of these characteristics in the atmosphere, which has previously been unknown. The results provide insights into the effects of atmospheric processes and emissions on brown carbon properties.
Yetang Wang, Xueying Zhang, Wentao Ning, Matthew A. Lazzara, Minghu Ding, Carleen H. Reijmer, Paul C. J. P. Smeets, Paolo Grigioni, Petra Heil, Elizabeth R. Thomas, David Mikolajczyk, Lee J. Welhouse, Linda M. Keller, Zhaosheng Zhai, Yuqi Sun, and Shugui Hou
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 411–429, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-411-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-411-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Here we construct a new database of Antarctic automatic weather station (AWS) meteorological records, which is quality-controlled by restrictive criteria. This dataset compiled all available Antarctic AWS observations, and its resolutions are 3-hourly, daily and monthly, which is very useful for quantifying spatiotemporal variability in weather conditions. Furthermore, this compilation will be used to estimate the performance of the regional climate models or meteorological reanalysis products.
Zhiheng Du, Jiao Yang, Lei Wang, Ninglian Wang, Anders Svensson, Zhen Zhang, Xiangyu Ma, Yaping Liu, Shimeng Wang, Jianzhong Xu, and Cunde Xiao
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 5349–5365, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-5349-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-5349-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A dataset of the radiogenic strontium and neodymium isotopic compositions from the three poles (the third pole, the Arctic, and Antarctica) were integrated to obtain new findings. The dataset enables us to map the standardized locations in the three poles, while the use of sorting criteria related to the sample type permits us to trace the dust sources and sinks. The purpose of this dataset is to try to determine the variable transport pathways of dust at three poles.
Jiajia Wang, Hongxi Pang, Shuangye Wu, Spruce W. Schoenemann, Ryu Uemura, Alexey Ekaykin, Martin Werner, Alexandre Cauquoin, Sentia Goursaud Oger, Summer Rupper, and Shugui Hou
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-384, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-384, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Stable water isotopic observations in surface snow over Antarctica provide a basis for validating isotopic models and interpreting Antarctic ice core records. This study presents a new compilation of Antarctic surface snow isotopic dataset based on published and unpublished sources. The database has a wide range of potential applications in studying spatial distribution of water isotopes, model validation, and reconstruction and interpretation of Antarctic ice core records.
Xinghua Zhang, Wenhui Zhao, Lixiang Zhai, Miao Zhong, Jinsen Shi, Junying Sun, Yanmei Liu, Conghui Xie, Yulong Tan, Kemei Li, Xinlei Ge, Qi Zhang, Shichang Kang, and Jianzhong Xu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-211, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-211, 2022
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
A comprehensive aerosol observation project was carried out in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in recent years to investigate the properties and sources of atmospheric aerosols as well as their regional differences by performing multiple short-term intensive field observations. The real-time online high-time-resolution (hourly) data of aerosol properties in the different TP region are integrated in a new dataset and can provide supporting for related studies in in the TP.
Wangbin Zhang, Shugui Hou, Shuang-Ye Wu, Hongxi Pang, Sharon B. Sneed, Elena V. Korotkikh, Paul A. Mayewski, Theo M. Jenk, and Margit Schwikowski
The Cryosphere, 16, 1997–2008, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1997-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1997-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study proposes a quantitative method to reconstruct annual precipitation records at the millennial timescale from the Tibetan ice cores through combining annual layer identification based on LA-ICP-MS measurement with an ice flow model. The reliability of this method is assessed by comparing our results with other reconstructed and modeled precipitation series for the Tibetan Plateau. The assessment shows that the method has a promising performance.
Tao Xu, Hongxi Pang, Zhaojun Zhan, Wangbin Zhang, Huiwen Guo, Shuangye Wu, and Shugui Hou
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 117–127, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-117-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-117-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we presented stable isotopes in atmospheric water vapor and precipitation for five extreme winter precipitation events in Nanjing, southeastern China, from December 2018 to February 2019. Our results imply that multiple moisture sources and the rapid shift among them are important conditions for sustaining extreme precipitation events, especially in the relatively cold and dry winter.
Fan Mei, Jian Wang, Shan Zhou, Qi Zhang, Sonya Collier, and Jianzhong Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 13019–13029, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13019-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13019-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This work focuses on understanding aerosol's ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and its variations with organic oxidation level and volatility using measurements at a rural site. Aerosol properties were examined from four air mass sources. The results help improve the accurate representation of aerosol from different ambient aerosol emissions, transformation pathways, and atmospheric processes in a climate model.
Yetang Wang, Minghu Ding, Carleen H. Reijmer, Paul C. J. P. Smeets, Shugui Hou, and Cunde Xiao
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 3057–3074, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3057-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3057-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate observation of surface mass balance (SMB) under climate change is essential for the reliable present and future assessment of Antarctic contribution to global sea level. This study presents a new quality-controlled dataset of Antarctic SMB observations at different temporal resolutions and is the first ice-sheet-scale compilation of multiple types of measurements. The dataset can be widely applied to climate model validation, remote sensing retrievals, and data assimilation.
Shugui Hou, Wangbin Zhang, Ling Fang, Theo M. Jenk, Shuangye Wu, Hongxi Pang, and Margit Schwikowski
The Cryosphere, 15, 2109–2114, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2109-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2109-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present ages for two new ice cores reaching bedrock, from the Zangser Kangri (ZK) glacier in the northwestern Tibetan Plateau and the Shulenanshan (SLNS) glacier in the western Qilian Mountains. We estimated bottom ages of 8.90±0.57/0.56 ka and 7.46±1.46/1.79 ka for the ZK and SLNS ice core respectively, constraining the time range accessible by Tibetan ice cores to the Holocene.
Ling Fang, Theo M. Jenk, Thomas Singer, Shugui Hou, and Margit Schwikowski
The Cryosphere, 15, 1537–1550, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1537-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1537-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The interpretation of the ice-core-preserved signal requires a precise chronology. Radiocarbon (14C) dating of the water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) fraction has become an important dating tool. However, this method is restricted by the low concentration in the ice. In this work, we report first 14C dating results using the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fraction. The resulting ages are comparable in both fractions, but by using the DOC fraction the required ice mass can be reduced.
Cited articles
Alfarra, M. R., Prevot, A. S. H., Szidat, S., Sandradewi, J., Weimer, S., Lanz, V. A., Schreiber, D., Mohr, M., and Baltensperger, U.: Identification of the mass spectral signature of organic aerosols from wood burning emissions, Environ. Sci. Technol., 41, 5770–5777, https://doi.org/10.1021/es062289b, 2007.
An, Y., Xu, J., Feng, L., Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Kang, S., Jiang, B., and Liao, Y.: Molecular characterization of organic aerosol in the Himalayas: insight from ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 1115–1128, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-1115-2019, 2019.
Arun, B. S., Gogoi, M. M., Hegde, P., Borgohain, A., Boreddy, S. K. R., Kundu, S. S., and Babu, S. S.: Carbonaceous aerosols over Lachung in the eastern Himalayas: primary sources and secondary formation of organic aerosols in a remote high-altitude environment, ACS Earth Space Chem., 5, 2493–2506, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00190, 2021.
Bonasoni, P., Laj, P., Marinoni, A., Sprenger, M., Angelini, F., Arduini, J., Bonafè, U., Calzolari, F., Colombo, T., Decesari, S., Di Biagio, C., di Sarra, A. G., Evangelisti, F., Duchi, R., Facchini, M. C., Fuzzi, S., Gobbi, G. P., Maione, M., Panday, A., Roccato, F., Sellegri, K., Venzac, H., Verza, G. P., Villani, P., Vuillermoz, E., and Cristofanelli, P.: Atmospheric Brown Clouds in the Himalayas: first two years of continuous observations at the Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid (5079 m), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 7515–7531, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-7515-2010, 2010.
Canagaratna, M. R., Jayne, J. T., Ghertner, D. A., Herndon, S., Shi, Q., Jimenez, J. L., Silva, P. J., Williams, P., Lanni, T., Drewnick, F., Demerjian, K. L., Kolb, C. E., and Worsnop, D. R.: Chase studies of particulate emissions from in-use New York City vehicles, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 38, 555–573, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820490465504, 2004.
Canagaratna, M. R., Jayne, J. T., Jimenez, J. L., Allan, J. D., Alfarra, M. R., Zhang, Q., Onasch, T. B., Drewnick, F., Coe, H., Middlebrook, A., Delia, A., Williams, L. R., Trimborn, A. M., Northway, M. J., DeCarlo, P. F., Kolb, C. E., Davidovits, P., and Worsnop, D. R.: Chemical and microphysical characterization of ambient aerosols with the aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 26, 185–222, https://doi.org/10.1002/mas.20115, 2007.
Canagaratna, M. R., Jimenez, J. L., Kroll, J. H., Chen, Q., Kessler, S. H., Massoli, P., Hildebrandt Ruiz, L., Fortner, E., Williams, L. R., Wilson, K. R., Surratt, J. D., Donahue, N. M., Jayne, J. T., and Worsnop, D. R.: Elemental ratio measurements of organic compounds using aerosol mass spectrometry: characterization, improved calibration, and implications, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 253–272, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-253-2015, 2015.
Chen, C., Qiu, Y., Xu, W., He, Y., Li, Z., Sun, J., Ma, N., Xu, W., Pan, X., Fu, P., Wang, Z., and Sun, Y.: Primary emissions and secondary aerosol processing during wintertime in rural area of North China Plain, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 127, e2021JD035430, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd035430, 2022a.
Chen, Y., Guo, H., Nah, T., Tanner, D. J., Sullivan, A. P., Takeuchi, M., Gao, Z., Vasilakos, P., Russell, A. G., Baumann, K., Huey, L. G., Weber, R. J., and Ng, N. L.: Low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids in the southeastern US: formation, partitioning, and implications for organic aerosol aging, Environ. Sci. Technol., 55, 6688–6699, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c01413, 2021.
Chen, Y., Yang, C., Xu, L., Chen, J., Zhang, Y., Shi, J., Fan, X., Zheng, R., Hong, Y., and Li, M.: Chemical composition of NR-PM1 in a coastal city of Southeast China: temporal variations and formation pathways, Atmos. Environ., 285, 119243, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119243, 2022b.
Cong, Z., Kang, S., Kawamura, K., Liu, B., Wan, X., Wang, Z., Gao, S., and Fu, P.: Carbonaceous aerosols on the south edge of the Tibetan Plateau: concentrations, seasonality and sources, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 1573–1584, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1573-2015, 2015.
Cubison, M. J., Ortega, A. M., Hayes, P. L., Farmer, D. K., Day, D., Lechner, M. J., Brune, W. H., Apel, E., Diskin, G. S., Fisher, J. A., Fuelberg, H. E., Hecobian, A., Knapp, D. J., Mikoviny, T., Riemer, D., Sachse, G. W., Sessions, W., Weber, R. J., Weinheimer, A. J., Wisthaler, A., and Jimenez, J. L.: Effects of aging on organic aerosol from open biomass burning smoke in aircraft and laboratory studies, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 12049–12064, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-12049-2011, 2011.
Dai, M., Zhu, B., Fang, C., Zhou, S., Lu, W., Zhao, D., Ding, D., Pan, C., and Liao, H.: Long-term variation and source apportionment of black carbon at Mt. Waliguan, China, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 126, e2021JD035273, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd035273, 2021.
DeCarlo, P. F., Kimmel, J. R., Trimborn, A., Northway, M. J., Jayne, J. T., Aiken, A. C., Gonin, M., Fuhrer, K., Horvath, T., Docherty, K. S., Worsnop, D. R., and Jimenez, J. L.: Field-deployable, high-resolution, time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer, Anal. Chem., 78, 8281–8289, https://doi.org/10.1021/ac061249n, 2006.
Duan, J., Huang, R.-J., Gu, Y., Lin, C., Zhong, H., Xu, W., Liu, Q., You, Y., Ovadnevaite, J., Ceburnis, D., Hoffmann, T., and O'Dowd, C.: Measurement report: Large contribution of biomass burning and aqueous-phase processes to the wintertime secondary organic aerosol formation in Xi'an, Northwest China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10139–10153, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10139-2022, 2022.
Garrett, T. J. and Zhao, C. F.: Increased Arctic cloud longwave emissivity associated with pollution from mid-latitudes, Nature, 440, 787–789, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04636, 2006.
Guirado, C., Cuevas, E., Cachorro, V. E., Toledano, C., Alonso-Pérez, S., Bustos, J. J., Basart, S., Romero, P. M., Camino, C., Mimouni, M., Zeudmi, L., Goloub, P., Baldasano, J. M., and de Frutos, A. M.: Aerosol characterization at the Saharan AERONET site Tamanrasset, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11753–11773, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11753-2014, 2014.
Heald, C. L., Kroll, J. H., Jimenez, J. L., Docherty, K. S., DeCarlo, P. F., Aiken, A. C., Chen, Q., Martin, S. T., Farmer, D. K., and Artaxo, P.: A simplified description of the evolution of organic aerosol composition in the atmosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L08803, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010gl042737, 2010.
Hsu, Y. K., Holsen, T. M., and Hopke, P. K.: Comparison of hybrid receptor models to locate PCB sources in Chicago, Atmos. Environ., 37, 545–562, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1352-2310(02)00886-5, 2003.
Hu, W., Hu, M., Hu, W., Jimenez, J. L., Yuan, B., Chen, W., Wang, M., Wu, Y., Chen, C., Wang, Z., Peng, J., Zeng, L., and Shao, M.: Chemical composition, sources, and aging process of submicron aerosols in Beijing: contrast between summer and winter, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 121, 1955–1977, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jd024020, 2016.
Huang, J., Kang, S., Feng, X., Tang, W., Ram, K., Guo, J., Zhang, Q., Sharma, C. M., Li, C., Tripathee, L., and Wang, F.: Northward extent of atmospheric mercury transboundary transport to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau region, Geophys. Res. Lett., 50, e2022GL100948, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl100948, 2023.
Lai, Y., Chen, X., Ma, Y., Sun, F., Zhou, D., and Xie, Z.: Variation of atmospheric boundary layer height over the northern, central, and southern parts of the Tibetan Plateau during three monsoon seasons, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 128, e2022JD038000, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022jd038000, 2023.
Lambe, A. T., Onasch, T. B., Massoli, P., Croasdale, D. R., Wright, J. P., Ahern, A. T., Williams, L. R., Worsnop, D. R., Brune, W. H., and Davidovits, P.: Laboratory studies of the chemical composition and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and oxidized primary organic aerosol (OPOA), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 8913–8928, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-8913-2011, 2011.
Landrigan, P. J., Fuller, R., Acosta, N. J. R., Adeyi, O., Arnold, R., Basu, N., Baldé, A. B., Bertollini, R., Bose-O'Reilly, S., Boufford, J. I., Breysse, P. N., Chiles, T., Mahidol, C., Coll-Seck, A. M., Cropper, M. L., Fobil, J., Fuster, V., Greenstone, M., Haines, A., Hanrahan, D., Hunter, D., Khare, M., Krupnick, A., Lanphear, B., Lohani, B., Martin, K., Mathiasen, K. V., McTeer, M. A., Murray, C. J. L., Ndahimananjara, J. D., Perera, F., Potočnik, J., Preker, A. S., Ramesh, J., Rockström, J., Salinas, C., Samson, L. D., Sandilya, K., Sly, P. D., Smith, K. R., Steiner, A., Stewart, R. B., Suk, W. A., van Schayck, O. C. P., Yadama, G. N., Yumkella, K., and Zhong, M.: The Lancet Commission on pollution and health, The Lancet, 391, 462–512, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32345-0, 2018.
Lau, K. M., Kim, M. K., and Kim, K. M.: Asian summer monsoon anomalies induced by aerosol direct forcing: the role of the Tibetan Plateau, Clim. Dyn., 26, 855–864, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-006-0114-z, 2006.
Li, C., Bosch, C., Kang, S., Andersson, A., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Cong, Z., Chen, B., Qin, D., and Gustafsson, O.: Sources of black carbon to the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau glaciers, Nat. Commun., 7, 12574, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12574, 2016.
Li, J., Zhang, H., and Ying, Q.: Comparison of the SAPRC07 and SAPRC99 photochemical mechanisms during a high ozone episode in Texas: differences in concentrations, OH budget and relative response factors, Atmos. Environ., 54, 25–35, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.02.034, 2012.
Lüthi, Z. L., Škerlak, B., Kim, S.-W., Lauer, A., Mues, A., Rupakheti, M., and Kang, S.: Atmospheric brown clouds reach the Tibetan Plateau by crossing the Himalayas, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 6007–6021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6007-2015, 2015.
Lv, S., Wang, F., Wu, C., Chen, Y., Liu, S., Zhang, S., Li, D., Du, W., Zhang, F., Wang, H., Huang, C., Fu, Q., Duan, Y., and Wang, G.: Gas-to-aerosol phase partitioning of atmospheric water-soluble organic compounds at a rural site in China: an enhancing effect of NH3 on SOA formation, Environ. Sci. Technol., 56, 3915–3924, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c06855, 2022.
Ma, Y., Xie, Z., Ma, W., Han, C., Sun, F., Sun, G., Liu, L., Lai, Y., Wang, B., Liu, X., Zhao, W., Ma, W., Wang, F., Sun, L., Ma, B., Han, Y., Wang, Z., and Xi, Z.: A comprehensive observation station for climate change research on the top of earth, Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 104, E563–E584, https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-22-0084.1, 2023.
Morino, Y., Tanabe, K., Sato, K., and Ohara, T.: Secondary organic aerosol model intercomparison based on secondary organic aerosol to odd oxygen ratio in Tokyo, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 119, 13489–13505, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014jd021937, 2014.
Ng, N. L., Canagaratna, M. R., Zhang, Q., Jimenez, J. L., Tian, J., Ulbrich, I. M., Kroll, J. H., Docherty, K. S., Chhabra, P. S., Bahreini, R., Murphy, S. M., Seinfeld, J. H., Hildebrandt, L., Donahue, N. M., DeCarlo, P. F., Lanz, V. A., Prévôt, A. S. H., Dinar, E., Rudich, Y., and Worsnop, D. R.: Organic aerosol components observed in Northern Hemispheric datasets from Aerosol Mass Spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 4625–4641, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-4625-2010, 2010.
Ng, N. L., Canagaratna, M. R., Jimenez, J. L., Chhabra, P. S., Seinfeld, J. H., and Worsnop, D. R.: Changes in organic aerosol composition with aging inferred from aerosol mass spectra, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 6465–6474, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-6465-2011, 2011.
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, https://doi.org/10.1002/env.3170050203, 1994.
Rogers, M. J., Joo, T., Hass-Mitchell, T., Canagaratna, M. R., Campuzano-Jost, P., Sueper, D., Tran, M. N., Machesky, J. E., Roscioli, J. R., Jimenez, J. L., Krechmer, J. E., Lambe, A. T., Nault, B. A., and Gentner, D. R.: Humid summers promote urban aqueous-Phase production of oxygenated organic aerosol in the northeastern United States, Geophys. Res. Lett., 52, e2024GL112005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl112005, 2025.
Sareen, N., Waxman, E. M., Turpin, B. J., Volkamer, R., and Carlton, A. G.: Potential of aerosol liquid water to facilitate organic aerosol formation: assessing knowledge gaps about precursors and partitioning, Environ. Sci. Technol., 51, 3327–3335, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04540, 2017.
Schueneman, M. K., Nault, B. A., Campuzano-Jost, P., Jo, D. S., Day, D. A., Schroder, J. C., Palm, B. B., Hodzic, A., Dibb, J. E., and Jimenez, J. L.: Aerosol pH indicator and organosulfate detectability from aerosol mass spectrometry measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 2237–2260, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2237-2021, 2021.
Stein, A. F., Draxler, R. R., Rolph, G. D., Stunder, B. J. B., Cohen, M. D., and Ngan, F.: NOAA's HYSPLIT atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling system, Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 96, 2059–2077, https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-14-00110.1, 2015.
Stone, E. A., Schauer, J. J., Pradhan, B. B., Dangol, P. M., Habib, G., Venkataraman, C., and Ramanathan, V.: Characterization of emissions from South Asian biofuels and application to source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosol in the Himalayas, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 115, D06301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jd011881, 2010.
Sun, F., Ma, Y., Hu, Z., Li, M., Gerken, T., Zhang, L., Han, C., and Sun, G.: Observation of strong winds on the northern slopes of Mount Everest in monsoon season, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 49, 687–697, https://doi.org/10.1657/aaar0016-010, 2017.
Sun, F., Ma, Y., Hu, Z., Li, M., Tartari, G., Salerno, F., Gerken, T., Bonasoni, P., Cristofanelli, P., and Vuillermoz, E.: Mechanism of daytime strong winds on the northern slopes of Himalayas, near Mount Everest: observation and simulation, J. Appl. Meteorol. Climatol., 57, 255–272, https://doi.org/10.1175/jamc-d-16-0409.1, 2018a.
Sun, Y., Xu, W., Zhang, Q., Jiang, Q., Canonaco, F., Prévôt, A. S. H., Fu, P., Li, J., Jayne, J., Worsnop, D. R., and Wang, Z.: Source apportionment of organic aerosol from 2 year highly time-resolved measurements by an aerosol chemical speciation monitor in Beijing, China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 8469–8489, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-8469-2018, 2018b.
Sun, Y.-L., Zhang, Q., Schwab, J. J., Demerjian, K. L., Chen, W.-N., Bae, M.-S., Hung, H.-M., Hogrefe, O., Frank, B., Rattigan, O. V., and Lin, Y.-C.: Characterization of the sources and processes of organic and inorganic aerosols in New York city with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass apectrometer, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 1581–1602, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-1581-2011, 2011.
Ulbrich, I. M., Canagaratna, M. R., Zhang, Q., Worsnop, D. R., and Jimenez, J. L.: Interpretation of organic components from Positive Matrix Factorization of aerosol mass spectrometric data, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 2891–2918, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2891-2009, 2009.
Urgnani, R., Finco, A., Chiesa, M., Marzuoli, R., Bignotti, L., Riccio, A., Chianese, E., Tirimberio, G., Giovannini, L., Zardi, D., and Gerosa, G.: Size-segregated aerosol fluxes, deposition velocities, and chemical composition in an Alpine valley, Atmos. Res., 268, 105995, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105995, 2022.
VanderSchelden, G., de Foy, B., Herring, C., Kaspari, S., VanReken, T., and Jobson, B.: Contributions of wood smoke and vehicle emissions to ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter during the Yakima wintertime nitrate study, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 122, 1871–1883, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jd025332, 2017.
Wang, J., Zhang, Q., Chen, M., Collier, S., Zhou, S., Ge, X., Xu, J., Shi, J., Xie, C., Hu, J., Ge, S., Sun, Y., and Coe, H.: First chemical characterization of refractory black carbon aerosols and associated coatings over the Tibetan Plateau (4730 m a.s.l.), Environ. Sci. Technol., 51, 14072–14082, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b03973, 2017a.
Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Wang, Y., Zhou, J., Whalley, L. K., Slater, E. J., Dyson, J. E., Xu, W., Cheng, P., Han, B., Wang, L., Yu, X., Wang, Y., Woodward-Massey, R., Lin, W., Zhao, W., Zeng, L., Ma, Z., Heard, D. E., and Ye, C.: Validating HONO as an intermediate tracer of the external cycling of reactive nitrogen in the background atmosphere, Environ. Sci. Technol., 57, 5474–5484, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c06731, 2023.
Wang, M., Wang, H., Xu, B., Li, Z., Zhao, H., Li, J., Cui, A., Zhu, S., and Li, J.: Radiocarbon fingerprinting black carbon source history in the Himalayas, Geophys. Res. Lett., 52, e2024GL113764, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl113764, 2025.
Wang, Q., Huang, R., Zhao, Z., Cao, J., Ni, H., Tie, X., Zhu, C., Shen, Z., Wang, M., Dai, W., Han, Y., Zhang, N., and Prevot, A. S. H.: Effects of photochemical oxidation on the mixing state and light absorption of black carbon in the urban atmosphere of China, Environmental Research Letters, 12, 044012, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa64ea, 2017b.
Wood, E. C., Canagaratna, M. R., Herndon, S. C., Onasch, T. B., Kolb, C. E., Worsnop, D. R., Kroll, J. H., Knighton, W. B., Seila, R., Zavala, M., Molina, L. T., DeCarlo, P. F., Jimenez, J. L., Weinheimer, A. J., Knapp, D. J., Jobson, B. T., Stutz, J., Kuster, W. C., and Williams, E. J.: Investigation of the correlation between odd oxygen and secondary organic aerosol in Mexico City and Houston, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 8947–8968, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-8947-2010, 2010.
Xu, J., Zhang, Q., Shi, J., Ge, X., Xie, C., Wang, J., Kang, S., Zhang, R., and Wang, Y.: Chemical characteristics of submicron particles at the central Tibetan Plateau: insights from aerosol mass spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 427–443, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-427-2018, 2018.
Xu, J., Hettiyadura, A. P. S., Liu, Y., Zhang, X., Kang, S., and Laskin, A.: Regional differences of chemical composition and optical properties of aerosols in the Tibetan Plateau, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 125, e2019JD031226, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019jd031226, 2020.
Xu, J., Hettiyadura, A. P. S., Liu, Y., Zhang, X., Kang, S., and Laskin, A.: Atmospheric brown carbon on the Tibetan Plateau: regional differences in chemical composition and light absorption properties, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 9, 219–225, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00016, 2022.
Xu, J., Zhang, X., Zhao, W., Zhai, L., Zhong, M., Shi, J., Sun, J., Liu, Y., Xie, C., Tan, Y., Li, K., Ge, X., Zhang, Q., and Kang, S.: High-resolution physicochemical dataset of atmospheric aerosols over the Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1875–1900, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1875-2024, 2024.
Yu, Z., Tian, P., Kang, C., Song, X., Huang, J., Guo, Y., Shi, J., Tang, C., Zhang, H., Zhang, Z., Cao, X., Liang, J., and Zhang, L.: Physical properties, chemical components, and transport mechanisms of atmospheric aerosols over a remote area on the south slope of the Tibetan Plateau, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 129, e2023JD040193, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jd040193, 2024.
Zhang, L., Cheng, P., Hou, X., Wang, D., Liu, X., Liu, Q., Dong, G., Zhou, J., Jiang, H., and Tang, L.: Long-range transboundary transport of iodine-129 from South Asia to the southern Tibetan Plateau revealed by moss and lichen, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 11, 323–328, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00058, 2024.
Zhang, Q., Jimenez, J. L., Worsnop, D. R., and Canagaratna, M.: A case study of urban particle acidity and its influence on secondary organic aerosol, Environ. Sci. Technol., 41, 3213–3219, https://doi.org/10.1021/es061812j, 2007.
Zhang, Q., Jimenez, J. L., Canagaratna, M. R., Ulbrich, I. M., Ng, N. L., Worsnop, D. R., and Sun, Y.: Understanding atmospheric organic aerosols via factor analysis of aerosol mass spectrometry: a review, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 401, 3045–3067, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5355-y, 2011.
Zhang, Q. J., Beekmann, M., Freney, E., Sellegri, K., Pichon, J. M., Schwarzenboeck, A., Colomb, A., Bourrianne, T., Michoud, V., and Borbon, A.: Formation of secondary organic aerosol in the Paris pollution plume and its impact on surrounding regions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 13973–13992, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-13973-2015, 2015a.
Zhang, R., Wang, H., Qian, Y., Rasch, P. J., Easter, R. C., Ma, P.-L., Singh, B., Huang, J., and Fu, Q.: Quantifying sources, transport, deposition, and radiative forcing of black carbon over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 6205–6223, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-6205-2015, 2015b.
Zhang, T., Shen, Z. X., Su, H., Liu, S. X., Zhou, J. M., Zhao, Z. Z., Wang, Q. Y., Prevot, A. S. H., and Cao, J. J.: Effects of aerosol water content on the formation of secondary inorganic aerosol during a winter heavy PM2.5 pollution episode in Xi'an, China, Atmos. Environ., 252, 118304, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118304, 2021.
Zhang, X., Xu, J., Kang, S., Liu, Y., and Zhang, Q.: Chemical characterization of long-range transport biomass burning emissions to the Himalayas: insights from high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 4617–4638, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-4617-2018, 2018.
Zhang, X., Xu, J., Kang, S., Zhang, Q., and Sun, J.: Chemical characterization and sources of submicron aerosols in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: insights from high-resolution mass spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 7897–7911, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7897-2019, 2019.
Zhao, C., Yang, Y., Fan, H., Huang, J., Fu, Y., Zhang, X., Kang, S., Cong, Z., Letu, H., and Menenti, M.: Aerosol characteristics and impacts on weather and climate over the Tibetan Plateau, Natl. Sci. Rev., 7, 492–495, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwz184, 2019.
Zhao, W., Zhang, X., Zhai, L., Shen, X., and Xu, J.: Chemical characterization and sources of submicron aerosols in Lhasa on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: insights from high-resolution mass spectrometry, Sci. Total Environ., 815, 152866, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152866, 2022.
Zheng, J., Hu, M., Du, Z., Shang, D., Gong, Z., Qin, Y., Fang, J., Gu, F., Li, M., Peng, J., Li, J., Zhang, Y., Huang, X., He, L., Wu, Y., and Guo, S.: Influence of biomass burning from South Asia at a high-altitude mountain receptor site in China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 6853–6864, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-6853-2017, 2017.
Zhou, S., Guo, F., Chao, C.-Y., Yoon, S., Alvarez, S. L., Shrestha, S., Flynn III, J. H., Usenko, S., Sheesley, R. J., and Griffin, R. J.: Marine submicron aerosols from the Gulf of Mexico: polluted and acidic with rapid production of sulfate and organosulfates, Environ. Sci. Technol., 57, 5149–5159, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c05469, 2023.
Short summary
We studied air pollution transported from South Asia to the Himalayas during the pre-monsoon season. Using real-time instruments, we measured airborne particles and trace gases on the northern slope of the mountains. We found that burning biomass was a major source of these particles, which changed chemically as they travelled long distances. These changes were affected by photochemical and cloud processes, with important consequences for the regional climate and melting of glaciers.
We studied air pollution transported from South Asia to the Himalayas during the pre-monsoon...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint