Articles | Volume 26, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7827-2026
© 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-26-7827-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Jun 2026
Research article |
| 04 Jun 2026
| 04 Jun 2026
Synchronization of source and sink by boundary layer evolution: a key to new particle formation under varying ozone pollution
Yulin Wang
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Deyu Liu
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Honglei Wang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Extreme Meteorology, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Shuangshuang Shi
School of Atmosphere and Remote Sensing, Wuxi University, Wuxi 214105, China
Qun Hu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Dongsheng Meteorological Bureau, Erdos 017000, China
Zihan Wang
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Zirui Liu
State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Extreme Meteorology, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Tianliang Zhao
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Lijuan Shen
School of Atmosphere and Remote Sensing, Wuxi University, Wuxi 214105, China
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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Zihan Wang, Yishu Bian, Fuwang Zhang, Honglei Wang, Wen Lin, Jun Hu, Tianliang Zhao, Lijian Shen, and Zuxin Xie
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 7539–7554, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7539-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7539-2026, 2026
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We investigated how new air particles form in cities and affect clouds. Our year-long study revealed a key seasonal pattern: while particle formation events are most frequent in spring, they are surprisingly inefficient at creating the seeds for clouds due to high pollution. In contrast, the cleaner summer air, despite having fewer events, allows the new particles to grow larger and much more effectively enhance potential cloud formation.
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EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1706, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1706, 2026
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Using aircraft and ground-based observations, this study analyzes a spring snowstorm over North China Plain. It reveals distinct microphysics: stratiform regions feature ice growth by deposition/aggregation, while thunderstorms areas show higher supercooled water content and riming. The precipitation particle distribution characteristic of thunderstorm areas is also revealed. The vertical precipitation structure varies across stages, influenced by phase transitions and updrafts.
Deyu Liu, Yue Chen, Sihan Liu, Honglei Wang, Jingyi Chen, Yang Yang, Zihan Wang, Kun Cui, and Tianliang Zhao
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Chunshui Lin, Ru-Jin Huang, Jing Duan, Jing Qu, Jiahua Liu, Yi Liu, Yan Luo, Wei Huang, Wei Xu, Yanan Zhan, Zhitao Liu, Sihan Liu, Qingshuang Zhang, Quan Liu, Zirui Liu, Shengrong Lou, Huinan Yang, Dan Dan Huang, Cheng Huang, and Hongli Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 2635–2647, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-2635-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-2635-2026, 2026
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Since China's 2013 Clean Air Act cut PM2.5 by over half, winter haze in the North China Plain persists partly due to secondary organic aerosols now dominating primary organic aerosol, requiring urgent regional cooperation to address model-underestimated chemical transformations and cross-border pollution.
Weibin Zhu, Sai Shang, Jieqi Wang, Yunfei Wu, Zhaoze Deng, Liang Ran, Ye Kuang, Guiqian Tang, Xiangpeng Huang, Xiaole Pan, Lanzhong Liu, Weiqi Xu, Yele Sun, Bo Hu, Zifa Wang, and Zirui Liu
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NPF (new particle formation) is a key global CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) source, but its contribution at the polluted boundary-layer top remains unclear. Based on mountaintop observations in the Yangtze River Delta, we show that under polluted conditions, NPF at the boundary-layer top is enhanced and accelerates its conversion to CCN. Ammonia plays a key role, and a newly defined "Time Window" metric highlights the importance of oxidation-driven growth and regional transport in this process.
Sihan Liu, Honglei Wang, Delong Zhao, Wei Zhou, Yuanmou Du, Zhengguo Zhang, Peng Cheng, Tianliang Zhao, Yue Ke, Zihao Wu, and Mengyu Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4151–4165, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4151-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4151-2025, 2025
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To understand the effect of aerosols on the vertical distribution of stratocumulus microphysical quantities in southwest China, the daily variation characteristics and formation mechanism of the vertical profiles of stratocumulus microphysical characteristics in this region were described using the data of nine cloud-crossing aircraft observations over Guangxi from 10 October to 3 November 2020.
Honglei Wang, David W. Tarasick, Jane Liu, Herman G. J. Smit, Roeland Van Malderen, Lijuan Shen, Romain Blot, and Tianliang Zhao
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Mengying Li, Shaocai Yu, Xue Chen, Zhen Li, Yibo Zhang, Zhe Song, Weiping Liu, Pengfei Li, Xiaoye Zhang, Meigen Zhang, Yele Sun, Zirui Liu, Caiping Sun, Jingkun Jiang, Shuxiao Wang, Benjamin N. Murphy, Kiran Alapaty, Rohit Mathur, Daniel Rosenfeld, and John H. Seinfeld
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This study constructed an emission inventory of condensable particulate matter (CPM) in China with a focus on organic aerosols (OAs), based on collected CPM emission information. The results show that OA emissions are enhanced twofold for the years 2014 and 2017 after the inclusion of CPM in the new inventory. Sensitivity cases demonstrated the significant contributions of CPM emissions from stationary combustion and mobile sources to primary, secondary, and total OA concentrations.
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Short summary
Atmospheric new particles formation plays an important role in air quality and climate change, but it does not always appear even in the similar situation. Using ground measurements and vertical observations, we found this process occurs only when the source increases while the sink weakens at the same time, which is mainly controlled by the development of the boundary layer. The finding helps us better understand particle formation in complex atmospheric environments.
Atmospheric new particles formation plays an important role in air quality and climate change,...
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