Characteristics of six criteria air pollutants before, during, and after a severe air pollution episode caused by biomass burning in the southern Sichuan Basin, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 215 ◽  
pp. 116840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Bin Luo ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yufang Hao ◽  
Wenwen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Criteria Air Pollutants ◽  
Pollution Episode

scholarly journals Transport, mixing and feedback of dust, biomass burning and anthropogenic pollutants in eastern Asia: a case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 16345-16361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derong Zhou ◽  
Ke Ding ◽  
Xin Huang ◽  
Lixia Liu ◽  
Qiang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Eastern Asia ◽  
Pollution Episode ◽  
The Yrd

Abstract. Anthropogenic fossil fuel (FF) combustion, biomass burning (BB) and desert dust are the main sources of air pollutants around the globe but are particularly intensive and important for air quality in Asia in spring. In this study, we investigate the vertical distribution, transport characteristics, source contribution and meteorological feedback of these aerosols in a unique pollution episode that occurred in eastern Asia based on various measurement data and modeling methods. In this episode, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China experienced persistent air pollution, dramatically changing from secondary fine particulate pollution to dust pollution in late March 2015. The Eulerian and Lagrangian models were conducted to investigate the vertical structure, transport characteristics and mechanisms of the multi-scale, multisource and multiday air pollution episode. The regional polluted continental aerosols mainly accumulated near the surface, mixed with dust aerosol downwash from the upper planetary boundary layer (PBL) and middle–lower troposphere (MLT), and further transported by large-scale cold fronts and warm conveyor belts. BB smoke from Southeast Asia was transported by westerlies around the altitude of 3 km from southern China, was further mixed with dust and FF aerosols in eastern China and experienced long-range transport over the Pacific. These pollutants could all be transported to the YRD region and cause a structure of multilayer pollution there. These pollutants could also cause significant feedback with MLT meteorology and then enhance local anthropogenic pollution. This study highlights the importance of intensive vertical measurement in eastern China and the downwind Pacific Ocean and raises the need for quantitative understanding of environmental and climate impacts of these pollution sources.

scholarly journals Dante’s kindling box

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-23
Author(s):  
Josiah Marquis ◽  
Meriem Benlamri ◽  
Elizabeth Dent ◽  
Tharmitha Suyeshkumar
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
Area Burned ◽  
The Relationship

Almost half of the Canadian landscape is made up of forests, but the amount of forest surface area burned every year has been growing steadily since 1960.1 This can be problematic due to the effects that forest fires have not only on the local environment but also on the globe as a whole. A forest fire or vegetation fire is defined as any open fire of vegetation such as savannah, forest, agriculture, or peat that is initiated by humans or nature.2 Vegetation fires contribute heavily to air pollution and climate change and are in turn exacerbated by them as well. Air pollution increases due to emissions from these fires, which contain 90-95% carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide as well as methane and other volatile compounds.2 Emissions from forest fires also contribute to global greenhouse gases and aerosol particles (biomass burning organic aerosols),2 leading to indirect and direct consequences to human health. In contrast to biomass burning for household heating and cooking, catastrophic events of forest fires and sweeping grassland fires result in unique exposures and health consequences. In this case report, the relationship between environmental hazardous air pollutants and the potential physiological and psychological health effects associated with the forest fire that affected Fort McMurray, AB in May 2016 are considered.

scholarly journals Seasonal and diurnal variability in air pollutants and short-lived climate forcers measured at the Rwanda Climate Observatory

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Langley DeWitt ◽  
Jimmy Gasore ◽  
Maheswar Rupakheti ◽  
Katherine E. Potter ◽  
Ronald G. Prinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Ozone Concentration ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Pollution Transport ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Air Masses

Abstract. Air pollution is still largely unstudied in sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in a gap in scientific understanding of emissions, atmospheric processes, and impacts of air pollutants in this region. The Rwanda Climate Observatory, a joint partnership between MIT and the government of Rwanda, has been measuring ambient concentrations of key long-lived greenhouse gases and short-lived climate-forcing pollutants (CO2, CO, CH4, BC, O3) with state-of-the-art instruments on the summit of Mt. Mugogo (1.586° S, 29.566° E, 2590 m above sea level) since May 2015. Rwanda is a small, mountainous, and densely populated country in equatorial East Africa, currently undergoing rapid development but still at less than 20 % urbanization. The position and meteorology of Rwanda is such that the emissions transported from both the northern and southern African biomass burning seasons affect BC, CO, and O3 concentrations in Rwanda. Black carbon concentrations during Rwanda's two dry seasons, which coincide with the two biomass burning seasons, are higher at Mt. Mugogo than in major European cities. Higher BC baseline concentrations at Mugogo are loosely correlated with fire radiative power data for the region acquired with MODIS satellite instrument. Spectral aerosol absorption measured with a dual-spot Aethalometer also varies in different seasons, likely due to change in types of fuel burned and direction of pollution transport to the site. Ozone concentration was found to be higher in air masses from southern Africa than from northern Africa during their respective biomass burning seasons. These higher ozone concentration in air masses from the south could be indicative of more anthropogenic emissions mixed with the biomass burning emissions from southern Africa as Rwanda is downwind of major East African capital cities in this season. During the rainy season, local emitting activities (e.g., cooking, transportation, trash burning) remain steady, regional biomass burning is low, and transport distances are shorter as rainout of pollution occurs regularly. Thus local pollution at Mugogo can be estimated during this time period. Understanding and quantification of the percent contributions of regional and local emissions is essential to guide policy in the region. Our measurements indicate that air pollution is a current and growing problem in equatorial East Africa that deserves immediate attention.

Gridded Emission Inventory of Criteria Air Pollutants for National Capital Territory, Delhi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Chaurasia ◽  
Manju Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Criteria Air Pollutants ◽  
National Capital

<p>The megacities of the world are experiencing a punishing level of air pollution where primary sources of emissions are industrial, residential and transportation. Delhi is also no exception and had been worst performing in terms of air quality and air pollution. In this backdrop, a high-resolution emission inventory becomes an essential tool to predict and forecast pollutant concentration along with the assessment of the impact of various government policies. This study aims to prepare a high-resolution gridded emission inventory (1km*1km) of criteria air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2 </sub>and CO) for Delhi-NCT (National Capital Territory).  The bottom-up gridded emission inventory has been prepared taking account of population density, land use pattern and socio-economic status. The emission from all the primary sectors has been taken into accounts such as transport, residential burning, industries, power plants, and municipal solid waste burning.  The emissions are estimated using emission factors and activity data for each sector. The emission factor for various fuel type burning is taken from CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) reports and previous literature. Data corresponding to various sectors such as the amount of fuel consumed, population density, road density, traffic congestion points, industrial location, unauthorized colonies, slums, and total solid waste generation has been acquired from various government bodies, reports, and literature. The result reveals that the total estimated emissions from transportation, industries and domestic sector contribute nearly 72%, 60%, 52% of NOx, SO2 and PM10 emission respectively.  The transport sector has been found as the bulk contributor towards CO and NOx emissions. Domestic sector and Power plant emission have been found to be a bulk contributor of CO and SO2. Later, the spatial distribution of the emission is done using GIS technique (Arc-GIS). For spatial distribution of emission, district-wise population data, road density data, power plant location and digitization of the road network was carried out.</p>

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Variations of Six Criteria Air Pollutants in Fujian Province, China

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weicong Fu ◽  
Ziru Chen ◽  
Zhipeng Zhu ◽  
Qunyue Liu ◽  
Cecil van den Bosch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variations ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Fujian Province ◽  
Criteria Air Pollutants

Air pollution has become a critical issue in the urban areas of southeastern China in recent years. A complete understanding of the tempo-spatial characteristics of air pollution can help the public and governmental bodies manage their lives and work better. In this study, data for six criteria air pollutants (including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3)) from 37 sites in nine major cities within Fujian Province, China were collected between January 2015 to December 2016, and analyzed. We analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of these six criteria pollutants, as well as the attainment rates, and identified what were the major pollutants. Our results show that: (1) the two-year mean values of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) standard I levels, whereas other air pollutants were below the CAAQS standard I; (2) the six criteria air pollutants show spatial variations (i.e. most air pollutants were higher in the city center areas, followed by suburban areas and exurban areas, except for O3; and the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, O3 were higher in coastal cities than in inland cities); (3) seasonal variations and the no attainment rates of air pollutants were found to be higher in cold seasons and lower in warm seasons, except for O3; (4) the most frequently present air pollutant was PM10, with PM2.5 and O3 being the second and third most frequent, respectively; (5) all the air pollutants, except O3, showed positive correlations with each other. These results provide additional information for the effective control of air pollution in the province of Fujian.

scholarly journals Impact of biomass burning on haze pollution in the Yangtze River Delta, China: a case study in summer 2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 30687-30720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Cheng ◽  
S. Wang ◽  
X. Fu ◽  
J. G. Watson ◽  
J. Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
River Delta ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
Open Burning ◽  
The Yangtze River Delta

Abstract. Open biomass burning is an important source of air pollution in China and globally. Joint observations of air pollution were conducted in five cities (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou and Nanjing) of the Yangtze River Delta, and a heavy haze episode with visibility 2.9–9.8 km was observed from 28 May to 6 June 2011. The contribution of biomass burning was quantified using both ambient monitoring data and the WRF/CMAQ model simulation. It was found that the average and maximum daily PM2.5 concentrations during the episode were 82 μg m−3 and 144 μg m−3, respectively. Weather pattern analysis indicated that a stagnant process enhanced the accumulation of air pollutants, while the following precipitation process scavenged the pollution. Daily minimum mixing depth during the stagnant period was below 50 m. Both observation data and CMAQ model simulation indicated that biomass open burning contributed 37% of PM2.5, 70% of organic carbon and 61% of elemental carbon. Satellite-detected fire spots, back-trajectory analysis and air model simulation can be integrated to identify the locations where the biomasses are burned. The results also suggest that the impact of biomass open burning is regional, due to the substantial inter-province transport of air pollutants. These findings would improve the understanding of not only heavy haze and air pollution episodes, but also the emissions of such open fires.

scholarly journals Size distribution and mixing state of black carbon particles during a heavy air pollution episode in Shanghai

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 5399-5411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianda Gong ◽  
Ci Zhang ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
Sergey A. Nizkorodov ◽  
Jianmin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Traffic Emissions ◽  
Traffic Emission ◽  
Pollution Episode ◽  
Condensation Mode ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

Abstract. A Single Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SPAMS), a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) and various meteorological instruments were employed to investigate the chemical and physical properties of black carbon (BC) aerosols during a regional air pollution episode in urban Shanghai over a 5-day period in December 2013. The refractory black carbon (rBC) mass concentrations measured by SP2 averaged 3.2 µg m−3, with the peak value of 12.1 µg m−3 at 04:26 LT on 7 December. The number of BC-containing particles captured by SPAMS in the size range 200–1200 nm agreed very well with that detected by SP2 (R2 = 0.87). A cluster analysis of the single particle mass spectra allowed for the separation of BC-containing particles into five major classes: (1) Pure BC; (2) BC attributed to biomass burning (BBBC); (3) K-rich BC-containing (KBC); (4) BC internally mixed with OC and ammonium sulfate (BCOC-SOx); (5) BC internally mixed with OC and ammonium nitrate (BCOC-NOx). The size distribution of internally mixed BC particles was bimodal. Detected by SP2, the condensation mode peaked around  ∼  230 nm and droplet mode peaked around  ∼  380 nm, with a clear valley in the size distribution around  ∼  320 nm. The condensation mode mainly consisted of traffic emissions, with particles featuring a small rBC core (∼  60–80 nm) and a relatively thin absolute coating thickness (ACT,  ∼  50–130 nm). The droplet mode included highly aged traffic emission particles and biomass burning particles. The biomass burning particles had a larger rBC core (∼  80–130 nm) and a thick ACT (∼  110–300 nm). The highly aged traffic emissions had a smaller core (∼  60–80 nm) and a very thick ACT (∼  130–300 nm), which is larger than reported in any previous literature. A fast growth rate (∼  20 nm h−1) of rBC with small core sizes was observed during the experiment. High concentrations pollutants like NO2 likely accelerated the aging process and resulted in a continuous size growth of rBC-containing particles from traffic emission.

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