scholarly journals Characterization of submicron aerosols influenced by biomass burning at a site in the Sichuan Basin, southwestern China

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 13213-13230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Hu ◽  
Min Hu ◽  
Wei-Wei Hu ◽  
Hongya Niu ◽  
Jing Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract. Severe air pollution in Asia is often the consequence of a combination of large anthropogenic emissions and adverse synoptic conditions. However, limited studies on aerosols have been conducted under high emission intensity and under unique geographical and meteorological conditions. In this study, an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-AMS) and other state-of-the-art instruments were utilized at a suburban site, Ziyang, in the Sichuan Basin during December 2012 to January 2013. The chemical compositions of atmospheric submicron aerosols (PM1) were determined, the sources of organic aerosols (OA) were apportioned, and the aerosol secondary formation and aging process were explored as well. Due to high humidity and static air, PM1 maintained a relatively stable level during the whole campaign, with the mean concentration of 59.7 ± 24.1 µg m−3. OA was the most abundant component (36 %) in PM1, characterized by a relatively high oxidation state. Positive matrix factorization analysis was applied to the high-resolution organic mass spectral matrix, which deconvolved OA mass spectra into four factors: low-volatility (LV-OOA) and semivolatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA), biomass burning (BBOA) and hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA). OOA (sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) dominated OA as high as 71 %. In total, secondary inorganic and organic formation contributed 76 % of PM1. Secondary inorganic species correlated well (Pearson r = 0.415–0.555, p < 0.01) with relative humidity (RH), suggesting the humid air can favor the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols. As the photochemical age of OA increased with higher oxidation state, secondary organic aerosol formation contributed more to OA. The slope of OOA against Ox( = O3+NO2) steepened with the increase of RH, implying that, besides the photochemical transformation, the aqueous-phase oxidation was also an important pathway of the OOA formation. Primary emissions, especially biomass burning, resulted in high concentration and proportion of black carbon (BC) in PM1. During the episode obviously influenced by primary emissions, the contributions of BBOA to OA (26 %) and PM1 (11 %) were much higher than those (10–17 %, 4–7 %) in the clean and other polluted episodes, highlighting the significant influence of biomass burning.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Hu ◽  
Min Hu ◽  
Weiwei Hu ◽  
Hongya Niu ◽  
Jing Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract. Severe air pollution caused by large amount of pollutants and adverse synoptic processes appears often in Asia. However, limited studies on aerosols have been conducted under high emission intensity, and unique geographical and meteorological conditions. In this study, an Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-AMS) and other state-of-the-art instruments were utilized at a suburban site, Ziyang, in the Sichuan Basin during December 2012 to January 2013. The chemical compositions of atmospheric submicron aerosols (PM1) were determined, the sources of organic aerosols (OA) were apportioned, and the aerosol secondary formation and aging process were explored as well. Due to high humidity and static air, PM1 was maintained at a relatively stable level during the whole campaign, with the mean concentration of 59.7 &amp;pm; 24.1 μg m−3. OA was the most abundant component (36 %) in PM1, characterized by a relatively high oxidation state. Positive matrix factorization analysis was applied to the high resolution organic mass spectral matrix, which deconvolved OA mass spectra into four factors: low volatility (LV-OOA) and semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA), biomass burning (BBOA) and hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA). OOA (sum of LV-OOA and SV-OOA) dominated OA as high as 71 %. In total, secondary inorganic and organic formation contributed 76 % of PM. Secondary inorganic species correlated well with relative humidity (RH), indicating the humid air can favor the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols. With the increase of photochemical age, OA became more aged with higher oxidation state, and secondary organic aerosol formation contributed more significantly to OA. The slope of OOA against Ox (= O3 + NO2) steepened with the increase of RH, implying that besides the photochemical transformation, the aqueous-phase oxidation was also an important pathway of the OOA formation. Primary emissions, especially biomass burning, resulted in high concentration and proportion of black carbon (BC) in PM1. During the episode obviously influenced by primary emissions, the contributions of BBOA to OA (26 %) and PM1 (11 %) were much higher than those (10–17 %, 4–7 %) in the clean and other polluted episodes, highlighting the significant influence of biomass burning.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 8377-8427 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Aiken ◽  
D. Salcedo ◽  
M. J. Cubison ◽  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
P. F. DeCarlo ◽  
...  

Abstract. Submicron aerosol was analyzed during the MILAGRO field campaign in March 2006 at the T0 urban supersite in Mexico City with a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) and complementary instrumentation. Mass concentrations, diurnal cycles, and size distributions of inorganic and organic species are similar to results from the CENICA supersite in April 2003 with organic aerosol (OA) comprising about half of the fine PM mass. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis of the high resolution OA spectra identified three major components: chemically-reduced urban primary emissions (hydrocarbon-like OA, HOA), oxygenated OA (OOA, mostly secondary OA or SOA), and biomass burning OA (BBOA) that correlates with levoglucosan and acetonitrile. BBOA includes several very large plumes from regional fires and likely also some refuse burning. A fourth OA component is a small local nitrogen-containing reduced OA component (LOA) which accounts for 9% of the OA mass but one third of the organic nitrogen, likely as amines. OOA accounts for almost half of the OA on average, consistent with previous observations. OA apportionment results from PMF-AMS are compared to the PM2.5 chemical mass balance of organic molecular markers (CMB-OMM, from GC/MS analysis of filters). Results from both methods are overall consistent. Both assign the major components of OA to primary urban, biomass burning/woodsmoke, and secondary sources at similar magnitudes. The 2006 Mexico City emissions inventory underestimates the urban primary PM2.5 emissions by a factor of ~4, and it is ~16 times lower than afternoon concentrations when secondary species are included. Additionally, the forest fire contribution is underestimated by at least an order-of-magnitude in the inventory.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minhan Park ◽  
Yujue Wang ◽  
Jihyo Chong ◽  
Haebum Lee ◽  
Jiho Jang ◽  
...  

We performed simultaneous measurements of chemical compositions of fine particles in Beijing, China and Gwangju, Korea to better understand their sources during winter haze period. We identified PM2.5 events in Beijing, possibly caused by a combination of multiple primary combustion sources (biomass burning, coal burning, and vehicle emissions) and secondary aerosol formation under stagnant conditions and/or dust sources under high wind speeds. During the PM2.5 events in Gwangju, the contribution of biomass burning and secondary formation of nitrate and organics to the fine particles content significantly increased under stagnant conditions. We commonly observed the increases of nitrogen-containing organic compounds and biomass burning inorganic (K+) and organic (levoglucosan) markers, suggesting the importance of biomass burning sources during the winter haze events (except dust event cases) at both sites. Pb isotope ratios indicated that the fraction of Pb originated from possibly industry and coal combustion sources increased during the PM2.5 events in Gwangju, relative to nonevent days.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 32877-32920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Qin ◽  
S. D. Xie

Abstract. Multi-year inventories of anthropogenic black carbon emissions, including both fuel consumption and biomass burning, at a high spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° have been constructed in China using GIS methodology for the period 1980–2009, based on official statistical data and time-varying emission factors. Results show that black carbon emissions increased from 0.87 Tg in 1980 to 1.88 Tg in 2009 with a peak in about 1995, and had been continually increasing in the first decade of the 21 century. Residential contribution to the total BC emissions declined from 82.03% in 1980 to 42.33% in 2009 at a continuous diminishing trend, but had always been the dominant contributor in China. While contributions from industry and transportation sectors had increased notably. BC emissions were mainly concentrated in the central eastern districts, the three northeastern provinces and the Sichuan Basin, covering 22.30% of China's territory, but were responsible for 43.02%, 50.47%, 50.69% and 54.30% of the national black carbon emissions in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2009, respectively. Besides, China made up 70–85% of BC emissions in East Asia, half of the emissions in Asia, and accounted for averagely 18.97% of the global BC emissions during the estimation period.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyu Zhao ◽  
Tian Feng ◽  
Xuexi Tie ◽  
Zebin Wang

Abstract. Impacts of global climate change on the occurrence and development of air pollution have attracted more attentions. This study investigates impacts of the warming Tibetan Plateau on air quality in the Sichuan Basin. Meteorological observations and ERA-interim reanalysis data reveal that the Tibetan Plateau has been rapidly warming during the last 40 years (1979–2017), particularly in winter when the warming rate is approximately twice as much as the annual warming rate. Since 2013, the winter temperature over the plateau has even risen by 2 °C. Here, we use the WRF-CHEM model to assess the impact of the 2 °C warming on air quality in the Sichuan Basin. The model results show that the 2 °C warming causes an increase in the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) height and a decrease in the relative humidity (RH) in the basin. The elevated PBL height strengthens vertical diffusion of PM2.5, while the decreased RH significantly reduces secondary aerosol formation. Overall, PM2.5 concentration is reduced by 17.5 % (~ 25.1 μg m−3), of which the reduction in primary and secondary aerosols is 5.4 μg m−3 and 19.7 μg m−3, respectively. These results reveal that the recent warming plateau has improved air quality in the basin, to some certain extent, mitigating the air pollution therein. Nevertheless, climate system is particularly complicated, and more studies are needed to demonstrate the impact of climate change on air quality in the downstream regions as the plateau is likely to continue warming.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Chen

&lt;p&gt;Brc Carbon is a class of light-absorbing organic species, playing important roles on solar radiation budget and therefore influences climate forcing over regional and even global scales. We analyzed and evaluated the light absorption and radiative forcing of BrC in Chongqing, Wanzhou (Three Gorges Reservoir region), and Chengdu in the Sichuan Basin of Southwest China. The light-absorbing properties were evaluated, including mass absorption efficiency, absorption &amp;#197;ngstr&amp;#246;m exponent, and contributions to radiative forcing. The sources of BrC are also identified, including the contribution of secondary aerosol formation and primary emissions. This study contributes to the understandings of sources and the impact of brown carbon in the Sichuan Basin, southwestern China.&lt;/p&gt;


2012 ◽  
Vol 431 ◽  
pp. 68-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yihong Yang ◽  
Chuen-yu Chan ◽  
Jun Tao ◽  
Mang Lin ◽  
Guenter Engling ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 6633-6653 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Aiken ◽  
D. Salcedo ◽  
M. J. Cubison ◽  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
P. F. DeCarlo ◽  
...  

Abstract. Submicron aerosol was analyzed during the MILAGRO field campaign in March 2006 at the T0 urban supersite in Mexico City with a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) and complementary instrumentation. Mass concentrations, diurnal cycles, and size distributions of inorganic and organic species are similar to results from the CENICA supersite in April 2003 with organic aerosol (OA) comprising about half of the fine PM mass. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis of the high resolution OA spectra identified three major components: chemically-reduced urban primary emissions (hydrocarbon-like OA, HOA), oxygenated OA (OOA, mostly secondary OA or SOA), and biomass burning OA (BBOA) that correlates with levoglucosan and acetonitrile. BBOA includes several very large plumes from regional fires and likely also some refuse burning. A fourth OA component is a small local nitrogen-containing reduced OA component (LOA) which accounts for 9% of the OA mass but one third of the organic nitrogen, likely as amines. OOA accounts for almost half of the OA on average, consistent with previous observations. OA apportionment results from PMF-AMS are compared to the PM2.5 chemical mass balance of organic molecular markers (CMB-OMM, from GC/MS analysis of filters). Results from both methods are overall consistent. Both assign the major components of OA to primary urban, biomass burning/woodsmoke, and secondary sources at similar magnitudes. The 2006 Mexico City emissions inventory underestimates the urban primary PM2.5 emissions by a factor of ~4, and it is ~16 times lower than afternoon concentrations when secondary species are included. Additionally, the forest fire contribution is at least an order-of-magnitude larger than in the inventory.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (16) ◽  
pp. 4965-4981 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Myriokefalitakis ◽  
M. Vrekoussis ◽  
K. Tsigaridis ◽  
F. Wittrock ◽  
A. Richter ◽  
...  

Abstract. Glyoxal, the smallest dicarbonyl, which has recently been observed from space, is expected to provide indications on volatile organic compounds (VOC) oxidation and secondary aerosol formation in the troposphere. Glyoxal (CHOCHO) is known to be mostly of natural origin and is produced during biogenic VOC oxidation. However, a number of anthropogenically emitted hydrocarbons, like acetylene and aromatics, have been positively identified as CHOCHO precursors. The present study investigates the contribution of pollution to the CHOCHO levels by taking into account the secondary chemical formation of CHOCHO from precursors emitted from biogenic, anthropogenic and biomass burning sources. The impact of potential primary land emissions of CHOCHO is also investigated. A global 3-dimensional chemistry transport model of the troposphere (TM4-ECPL) able to simulate the gas phase chemistry coupled with all major aerosol components is used. The secondary anthropogenic contribution from fossil fuel and industrial VOCs emissions oxidation to the CHOCHO columns is found to reach 20–70% in the industrialized areas of the Northern Hemisphere and 3–20% in the tropics. This secondary CHOCHO source is on average three times larger than that from oxidation of VOCs from biomass burning sources. The chemical production of CHOCHO is calculated to equal to about 56 Tg y−1 with 70% being produced from biogenic hydrocarbons oxidation, 17% from acetylene, 11% from aromatic chemistry and 2% from ethene and propene. CHOCHO is destroyed in the troposphere primarily by reaction with OH radicals (23%) and by photolysis (63%), but it is also removed from the atmosphere through wet (8%) and dry deposition (6%). Potential formation of secondary organic aerosol through CHOCHO losses on/in aerosols and clouds is neglected here due to the significant uncertainties associated with the underlying chemistry. The global annual mean CHOCHO burden and lifetime in the model domain are estimated to be 0.02 Tg (equal to the global burden seen by SCIAMACHY over land for the year 2005) and about 3 h, respectively. The model results are compared with satellite observations of CHOCHO columns. When accounting only for the secondary sources of CHOCHO in the model, the model underestimates CHOCHO columns observed by satellites. This is attributed to an overestimate of CHOCHO sinks or a missing global source of about 20 Tg y−1. Using the current primary emissions of CHOCHO from biomass burning together with the anthropogenic combustion sources of about 7 Tg y−1 leads to an overestimate by the model over hot spot areas.


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