Characteristics and formation mechanism of a heavy air pollution episode caused by biomass burning in Chengdu, Southwest China

2014 ◽  
Vol 473-474 ◽  
pp. 507-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Chen ◽  
Shao-dong Xie
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Formation Mechanism ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
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 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.

An air pollution episode and its formation mechanism during the tropical cyclone Nuri's landfall in a coastal city of south China

2012 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 746-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Xun Yang ◽  
Alexis Kai Hon Lau ◽  
Jimmy Chi Hung Fung ◽  
Wen Zhou ◽  
Mark Wenig
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Formation Mechanism ◽  
South China ◽  
Coastal City ◽  
Pollution Episode

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 Analyzing the basic meteorological aspects of a particulate air pollution episode over the industrial area of Northwestern Greece during the November of 2009

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-253 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Wind Field ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Airborne Particulate Matter ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Pollution Episode

The complex terrain basin of Amyntaio – Ptolemais – Kozani in Western Macedonia of Greece is an area characterized by increased industrial activity and therefore it demands continuous and assiduous environmental monitoring. A prolonged particulate matter air pollution episode was recorded in the area during November 2009. Basic meteorological aspects are analyzed, during the episode period. Daily and hourly PM10 and PM2.5 concentration measurements were used along with surface and lower atmosphere hourly meteorological parameters from 13 measuring stations. The observational data were supported by data produced by the meteorological component of an air pollution model. The overall analysis showed that the episode was primarily the result of the synoptic setting of the middle and lower troposphere. An Omega blocking pattern which gradually transformed to a high-over-low pattern prevailed over central and southern Europe during the episode’s period. The examination of the vertical wind field in the lower troposphere and appropriate stability indices, revealed a continuous absence of significant convection. The weak horizontal wind field near the surface and the reduced mixing height combined with the lack of synoptic forcing resulted in the trapping of the pollutants in the lower troposphere and the recording of increased airborne particulate matter concentrations. The radical change of the synoptic setting in the first days of December marked the end of the episode.

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.

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