Characteristics of Turbulence and Aerosol Optical and Radiative Properties during Haze–Fog Episodes in Shenyang, Northeast China

The characteristics of turbulence in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the aerosol optical and radiative properties during haze and haze–fog mixed episodes on 22–27 January 2021, in Shenyang, a provincial city in Northeast China, were analyzed using meteorological and aerosol observations. During the haze episode, the hourly mean PM2.5 concentration reached a maximum of 337 µg m−3 and visibility decreased to 1.6 km. The PM2.5 concentration decreased gradually during the haze–fog mixed episode as a result of the scavenging effects of fog, but visibility mostly remained below 1 km owing to high ambient relative humidity (>90%). During the haze–fog mixed episode, an increasing proportion of PM2.5 led to a higher ratio of the backward to the total scattering coefficient. As fog occurred, downward shortwave radiation arriving at the surface was significantly reduced, and upward longwave radiation increased and almost equaled the downward longwave radiation, which can be used as a good indicator for distinguishing haze and fog. Mechanical turbulence was weak during both episodes, and latent heat flux varied within a wider range during the haze–fog mixed episode. The PBL dynamic structure affected the vertical distribution of aerosols/fog droplets. Aerosol-rich layers appeared at altitudes below 0.5 km and above 0.6 km during the haze episode. The elevated aerosol layer was related to the aerosol transport from upstream polluted areas caused by strong upper-level turbulence, and it began to mix vertically after sunrise because of convective turbulence. Aerosols and fog droplets were mostly trapped in a shallower PBL with a height of 0.2–0.4 km during the haze–fog mixed episode because of weaker turbulence.

Characteristics of Particulate Matter at Different Pollution Levels in Chengdu, Southwest of China

Air pollution is becoming increasingly serious along with social and economic development in the southwest of China. The distribution characteristics of particle matter (PM) were studied in Chengdu from 2016 to 2017, and the changes of PM bearing water-soluble ions and heavy metals and the distribution of secondary ions were analyzed during the haze episode. The results showed that at different pollution levels, heavy metals were more likely to be enriched in fine particles and may be used as a tracer of primary pollution sources. The water-soluble ions in PM2.5 were mainly Sulfate-Nitrate-Ammonium (SNA) accounting for 43.02%, 24.23%, 23.50%, respectively. SO42−, NO3−, NH4+ in PM10 accounted for 34.56%, 27.43%, 19.18%, respectively. It was mainly SO42− in PM at Clean levels (PM2.5 = 0~75 μg/m3, PM10 = 0~150 μg/m3), and mainly NH4+ and NO3− at Light-Medium levels (PM2.5 = 75~150 μg/m3, PM10 = 150~350 μg/m3). At Heavy levels (PM2.5 = 150~250 μg/m3, PM10 = 350~420 μg/m3), it is mainly SO42− in PM2.5, and mainly NH4+ and NO3− in PM10. The contribution of mobile sources to the formation of haze in the study area was significant. SNA had significant contributions to the PM during the haze episode, and more attention should be paid to them in order to improve air quality.

The effect of black carbon on aerosol-boundary layer feedback: Potential implications for Beijing haze episodes

Beijing suffers from poor air quality particularly during wintertime haze episodes when concentrations of PM2.5 can peak at > 400 ug/m3. Black carbon (BC), an aerosol which strongly absorbs solar radiation can make up to 10 % of PM2.5 in Beijing. Black carbon is of interest due to its climatic and health impacts. Black carbon has also been found to impact planetary boundary layer (PBL) meteorology. Through interacting with radiation and altering the thermal profile of the lower atmosphere, BC can either suppress or enhance PBL development to various degrees depending on the properties and altitude of the BC layer.Previous research assessing the impact of BC on PBL meteorology has been investigated through the use of regional models which are limited both by resolution and the chosen boundary layer schemes. In this work, we apply a high resolution coupled large eddy simulation-aerosol-radiation model (UCLALES-SALSA) to quantify the impact of black carbon at different altitudes on PBL dynamics using conditions from a specific haze episode which occurred from 1st–4th Dec 2016 in Beijing. Results presented in this paper quantify the heating rate of BC at various altitudes to be between 0.01 and 0.016 K/h per μg/m3 of BC, increasing with altitude but decreasing across the PBL. Through utilising a high resolution model which explicitly calculates turbulent dynamics, this paper showcases the impact of BC on PBL dynamics both within and above the PBL. These results show that BC within the PBL increases maximum PBL height by 0.4 % but that the same loading of BC above the PBL can suppress PBL height by 6.5 %. Furthermore, when BC is present throughout the column the impact of BC suppressing PBL development is further maximised, with BC causing a 17 % decrease in maximum PBL height compared to only scattering aerosols. Combining these results in this paper, we present a mechanism through which BC may play a prominent role in the intensity and longevity of Beijing’s pollution episodes.

PM2.5 acidity during haze episodes in Shanghai, China

Environmental contextAerosol acidity, or aerosol aqueous phase pH, can affect various environmental processes. Based on high frequency measurements of particulate compositions, along with thermodynamic calculations, this work studies particle acidity in the course of severe episodes of haze in Shanghai and considers the effect of this on the production of nitrate. The results will provide new perspectives on our interpretation of PM2.5 acidity during haze episodes in megacities. AbstractAerosol acidity is one of the most important parameters that can influence climate change and human health, which has been inadequately analysed in China. Here, hourly measurements of particulate compositions and the E-AIM II model (assuming thermodynamic equilibrium) were used to study particle acidity during severe episodes of haze in Shanghai. The total concentration of sulfate, nitrate and ammonium was 138.9 ± 50.6 μg m−3, maximum 241.3 μg m−3; and the PM2.5 to PM10 (PM2.5/PM10) ratio was 0.60. The fine particles detected were somewhat acidic, with a pH range of 0.04–4.50, average 2.34, which is higher than in some areas of the US and China. The relatively low particle acidity is attributed to particle water content levels. Furthermore, the growth rate of sulfate, nitrate and ammonium during a haze episode (Case 2) was faster than that during a clean episode (CE), owing to exacerbated effects of PM2.5 acidity in the event of high relative humidity (RH) on hazy days. Finally, the detected significant correlations of [NO3−]/[SO42−] with [NH4+]/[SO42−] in conditions of abundant NH4+ indicate that NO3− in Shanghai is primarily formed through homogeneous reaction between ambient NH3 and HNO3. These findings provide new perspectives on our interpretation of PM2.5 acidity during haze episodes in megacities.

Using a coupled LES aerosol–radiation model to investigate the importance of aerosol–boundary layer feedback in a Beijing haze episode

In this study we use a coupled LES aerosol–radiation model (UCLALES-SALSA), which we have recently configured for the urban environment of Beijing.