scholarly journals Increasing surface ozone concentrations in the background atmosphere of Southern China, 1994–2007

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 6217-6227 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wang ◽  
X. L. Wei ◽  
A. J. Ding ◽  
C. N. Poon ◽  
K. S. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
South China ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Background Ozone ◽  
Rate Of Increase

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone is of great importance with regard to air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change. In this paper we report the first continuous record of surface ozone in the background atmosphere of South China. The data were obtained from 1994 to 2007 at a coastal site in Hong Kong, which is strongly influenced by the outflow of Asian continental air during the winter and the inflow of maritime air from the subtropics in the summer. Three methods are used to derive the rate of change in ozone. A linear fit to the 14-year record shows that the ozone concentration increased by 0.58 ppbv/yr, whereas comparing means in years 1994–2000 and 2001–2007 gives an increase of 0.87 ppbv/yr for a 7-year period. The ozone changes in air masses from various source regions are also examined. Using local wind and carbon monoxide (CO) data to filter out local influence, we find that ozone increased by 0.94 ppbv/yr from 1994–2000 to 2001–2007 in air masses from Eastern China, with similar changes in the other two continent-influenced air-mass groups, but no statistically significant change in the marine air. An examination of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column obtained from GOME and SCIAMACHY reveals an increase in atmospheric NO2 in China's three fastest developing coastal regions, whereas NO2 in other parts of Asia decreased during the same period, and no obvious trend over the main shipping routes in the South China Sea was indicated. Thus the observed increase in background ozone in Hong Kong is most likely due to the increased emissions of NO2 (and possibly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well) in the upwind coastal regions of mainland China. The CO data at Hok Tsui showed less definitive changes compared to the satellite NO2 column. The increase in background ozone likely made a strong contribution (81%) to the rate of increase in "total ozone" at an urban site in Hong Kong, suggesting the need to consider distant sources when developing long-term strategies to mitigate local ozone pollution.

scholarly journals Increasing surface ozone concentrations in the background atmosphere of southern China, 1994–2007

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 10429-10455 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wang ◽  
X. L. Wei ◽  
A. J. Ding ◽  
C. N. Poon ◽  
K. S. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Background Ozone

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone is of great importance with regard to air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change. In this paper we report the first continuous record of surface ozone in the background atmosphere of South China. The data were obtained from 1994 to 2007 at a coastal site in Hong Kong, which is strongly influenced by the outflow of Asian continental air during the winter and the inflow of maritime air from the subtropics in the summer. Overall, the ozone concentration increased by an averaged rate of 0.55 ppbv/yr, with a larger increase in autumn (0.68 ppbv/yr). We also examine the trend in air masses from various source regions in Asia. Using local wind and concurrently measured carbon monoxide (CO) data to filter out local emissions, the mean ozone in air masses from eastern China, using the pooled averaging method, increased by 0.64 ppbv/yr, while ozone levels in other air-mass groups showed a positive trend (0.29–0.67 ppbv/yr) but with lower levels of statistical significance. An examination of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column concentration data obtained from GOME and SCIAMACHY reveals an increase in atmospheric NO2 in the three fastest developing coastal regions of China, whereas NO2 in other parts of Asia decreased during the same period. It is believed that the observed increase in background ozone in Hong Kong is primarily due to the increased emissions of NO2 (and possibly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well) in the upwind coastal regions of mainland China, which is supported by the observed positive CO trend (5.23 ppbv/yr) at the site. The increase in background ozone contributed two thirds of the annual increase in ''total ozone'' in the downwind urban areas of Hong Kong, suggesting the need to consider distant sources when developing long-term strategies to mitigate local ozone pollution, although short-term strategies should be aimed at sources in Hong Kong and the adjacent Pearl River Delta.

scholarly journals Observations of aerosol optical properties at a coastal site in Hong Kong, South China

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 2653-2671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaping Wang ◽  
Aki Virkkula ◽  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Shuncheng Lee ◽  
Yicheng Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Light Scattering ◽  
South China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Light Extinction ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Temporal variations in aerosol optical properties were investigated at a coastal station in Hong Kong based on the field observation from February 2012 to February 2015. At 550 nm, the average light-scattering (151 ± 100 Mm−1) and absorption coefficients (8.3 ± 6.1 Mm−1) were lower than most of other rural sites in eastern China, while the single-scattering albedo (SSA  =  0.93 ± 0.05) was relatively higher compared with other rural sites in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Correlation analysis confirmed that the darkest aerosols were smaller in particle size and showed strong scattering wavelength dependencies, indicating possible sources from fresh emissions close to the measurement site. Particles with Dp of 200–800 nm were less in number, yet contributed the most to the light-scattering coefficients among submicron particles. In summer, both ΔBC / ΔCO and SO2 / BC peaked, indicating the impact of nearby combustion sources on this site. Multi-year backward Lagrangian particle dispersion modeling (LPDM) and potential source contribution (PSC) analysis revealed that these particles were mainly from the air masses that moved southward over Shenzhen and urban Hong Kong and the polluted marine air containing ship exhausts. These fresh emission sources led to low SSA during summer months. For winter and autumn months, contrarily, ΔBC / ΔCO and SO2 / BC were relatively low, showing that the site was more under influence of well-mixed air masses from long-range transport including from South China, East China coastal regions, and aged aerosol transported over the Pacific Ocean and Taiwan, causing stronger abilities of light extinction and larger variability of aerosol optical properties. Our results showed that ship emissions in the vicinity of Hong Kong could have visible impact on the light-scattering and absorption abilities as well as SSA at Hok Tsui.

scholarly journals Observations of aerosol optical properties at a coastal site in Hong Kong, South China

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaping Wang ◽  
Aki Virkkula ◽  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Shuncheng Lee ◽  
Yicheng Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Light Scattering ◽  
South China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Light Extinction ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Temporal variations of aerosol optical properties were investigated at a coastal station in Hong Kong based on the field observation from February 2012 to February 2015. At 550 nm, the average light scattering (150.6 Mm−1) and absorption coefficient (8.3 Mm−1) were lower than most of other rural sites in eastern China while the single scattering albedo (SSA = 0.93 ± 0.05) was relatively higher compared with other rural sites in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Correlation analysis showed that the darkest aerosols were smaller in particle size but showed strong scattering wavelength dependencies, indicating possible sources from fresh emissions close to the measurement site. Particles with Dp of 200–800 nm were less in number, yet contributed the most to the light scattering coefficients among submicron particles. In summer, both ΔBC/ΔCO and SO2/BC peaked, indicating the impact of nearby combustion sources on this site. Multi-year backward LPDM and PSC analysis revealed that these particles were mainly from the air masses moved southward over Shenzhen and urban Hong Kong and the polluted marine air containing ship exhausts. These fresh emission sources led to low SSA during summer. For winter and autumn months, contrarily, ΔBC/ΔCO and SO2/BC were relatively low, showing that the site was more under influence of well-mixed air masses from long-range transport including South China, East China coastal regions, and aged aerosol transported over Pacific Ocean and Taiwan Island, causing stronger abilities of light extinction and larger variability of aerosol optical properties. Our results showed that ship emissions in the vicinity of Hong Kong could have visible impact on the light scattering and absorption abilities as well as SSA at Hok Tsui.

scholarly journals Seasonal and spatial variability of surface ozone over China: contributions from background and domestic pollution

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3511-3525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
J. Hao ◽  
M. Luo
Keyword(s):  
Yangtze River ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Chemical Transport Model ◽  
Background Ozone ◽  
Range Transport

Abstract. Both observations and a 3-D chemical transport model suggest that surface ozone over populated eastern China features a summertime trough and that the month when surface ozone peaks differs by latitude and region. Source-receptor analysis is used to quantify the contributions of background ozone and Chinese anthropogenic emissions on this variability. Annual mean background ozone over China shows a spatial gradient from 55 ppbv in the northwest to 20 ppbv in the southeast, corresponding with changes in topography and ozone lifetime. Pollution background ozone (annual mean of 12.6 ppbv) shows a minimum in the summer and maximum in the spring. On the monthly-mean basis, Chinese pollution ozone (CPO) has a peak of 20–25 ppbv in June north of the Yangtze River and in October south of it, which explains the peaks of surface ozone in these months. The summertime trough in surface ozone over eastern China can be explained by the decrease of background ozone from spring to summer (by −15 ppbv regionally averaged over eastern China). Tagged simulations suggest that long-range transport of ozone from northern mid-latitude continents (including Europe and North America) reaches a minimum in the summer, whereas ozone from Southeast Asia exhibits a maximum in the summer over eastern China. This contrast in seasonality provides clear evidence that the seasonal switch in monsoonal wind patterns plays a significant role in determining the seasonality of background ozone over China.

scholarly journals Seasonal and spatial variability of surface ozone over China: contributions from background and domestic pollution

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 27853-27891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
J. Hao ◽  
M. Luo
Keyword(s):  
Yangtze River ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Chemical Transport ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Chemical Transport Model ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Background Ozone

Abstract. Both observations and a 3-D chemical transport model suggest that surface ozone over populated eastern China features a significant drop in mid-summer and that the peak month differs by latitude and region. Source-receptor analysis is used to quantify the contributions of background ozone and Chinese anthropogenic emissions on this variability. Annual mean background ozone over China shows a spatial gradient from 55 ppbv in the northwest to 20 ppbv in the southeast, corresponding with changes in topography and ozone lifetime. Anthropogenic background (annual mean of 12.6 ppbv) shows distinct troughs in the summer and peaks in the spring. On the monthly-mean basis, Chinese pollution ozone (CPO) has a peak of 20–25 ppbv in June north of the Yangtze River and in October south of it, which explains the peaks of surface ozone in these months. The mid-summer drop in ozone over eastern China is driven by the decrease of background ozone (−15 ppbv). Tagged simulations suggest that this decrease is driven by reduced transport from Europe and North America, whereas ozone from Southeast Asia and Pacific Ocean exhibits a maximum in the summer over eastern China. This contrast in seasonality provides clear evidence that the seasonal switch in monsoonal wind patterns plays a significant role in determining the seasonality of background ozone over China.

scholarly journals Long-term trends of surface ozone and its influencing factors at the Mt. Waliguan GAW station, China, Part 2: Variation mechanism and links to some climate indices

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanyun Xu ◽  
Xiaobin Xu ◽  
Meiyun Lin ◽  
Weili Lin ◽  
Jie Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Trajectory Analysis ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Sunspot Cycle ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Climate Indices ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Long Term Trends

Abstract. Interannual variability and long-term trends of tropospheric ozone are both of environmental and climate concerns. Ozone measured at Mt. Waliguan Observatory (WLG, 3816 m asl) on the Tibetan Plateau over the period 19947ndash;2013 has increased significantly by 0.2–0.3 ppbv year-1 during spring and autumn, but shows a much smaller trend in winter and no significant trend in summer. Here we explore the factors driving the observed ozone changes at WLG using backward trajectory analysis, chemistry-climate model hindcast simulations (GFDL-AM3), a trajectory-mapped ozonesonde dataset and various climate indices. A stratospheric ozone tracer implemented in GFDL-AM3 indicates that stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) can explain ~ 70 % of the observed springtime ozone increase at WLG, consistent with an increase in the NW air mass frequency inferred from the trajectory analysis. Enhanced STT associated with the strengthening of the mid-latitude jet stream contributes to the observed high-ozone anomalies at WLG during the springs of 1999 and 2012. During autumn, observations at WLG are more heavily influenced by polluted air masses originated from Southeast Asia than in the other seasons. Rising Asian anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors is the key driver of increasing autumnal ozone observed at WLG, as supported by the GFDL-AM3 model with time-varying emissions, which captures the observed ozone increase (0.26 ± 0.11 ppbv year-1). AM3 simulates a greater ozone increase of 0.38 ± 0.11 ppbv year-1 at WLG in autumn under conditions with strong transport from Southeast Asia and shows no significant ozone trend in autumn when anthropogenic emissions are held constant in time. During summer, WLG is mostly influenced by easterly air masses but these trajectories do not extend to the polluted regions of eastern China and have decreased significantly over the last two decades, which likely explains why summertime ozone measured at WLG shows no significant trend despite ozone increases in Eastern China. Analysis of the Trajectory-mapped Ozonesonde dataset for the Stratosphere and Troposphere (TOST) and trajectory residence time reveals increases in direct ozone transport from the eastern sector during autumn, which adds to the autumnal ozone increase. We further examine the links of ozone variability at WLG to the QBO, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and the sunspot cycle. Our results suggest that the 2–3 year, 3–7 year and 11 year periodicities are linked to QBO, EASMI and NAO and the sunspot cycle, respectively. A multivariate regression analysis is performed to quantify the relative contributions of various factors to surface ozone concentrations at WLG. Through an observational and modelling analysis, this study demonstrates the complex relationships between surface ozone at remote locations and its dynamical and chemical influencing factors.

scholarly journals Long-term trends of surface ozone and its influencing factors at the Mt Waliguan GAW station, China – Part 2: The roles of anthropogenic emissions and climate variability

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 773-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanyun Xu ◽  
Xiaobin Xu ◽  
Meiyun Lin ◽  
Weili Lin ◽  
David Tarasick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trajectory Analysis ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Sunspot Cycle ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Long Term Trends

Abstract. Inter-annual variability and long-term trends in tropospheric ozone are both environmental and climate concerns. Ozone measured at Mt Waliguan Observatory (WLG, 3816 m a.s.l.) on the Tibetan Plateau over the period of 1994–2013 has increased significantly by 0.2–0.3 ppbv yr−1 during spring and autumn but shows a much smaller trend in winter and no significant trend in summer. Here we explore the factors driving the observed ozone changes at WLG using backward trajectory analysis, chemistry–climate model hindcast simulations (GFDL AM3), a trajectory-mapped ozonesonde data set, and several climate indices. A stratospheric ozone tracer implemented in GFDL AM3 indicates that stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) can explain ∼ 60 % of the simulated springtime ozone increase at WLG, consistent with an increase in the NW air-mass frequency inferred from the trajectory analysis. Enhanced STT associated with the strengthening of the mid-latitude jet stream contributes to the observed high ozone anomalies at WLG during the springs of 1999 and 2012. During autumn, observations at WLG are more heavily influenced by polluted air masses originating from South East Asia than in the other seasons. Rising Asian anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors are the key driver of increasing autumnal ozone observed at WLG, as supported by the GFDL AM3 model with time-varying emissions, which captures the observed ozone increase (0.26 ± 0.11 ppbv yr−1). AM3 simulates a greater ozone increase of 0.38 ± 0.11 ppbv yr−1 at WLG in autumn under conditions with strong transport from South East Asia and shows no significant ozone trend in autumn when anthropogenic emissions are held constant in time. During summer, WLG is mostly influenced by easterly air masses, but these trajectories do not extend to the polluted regions of eastern China and have decreased significantly over the last 2 decades, which likely explains why summertime ozone measured at WLG shows no significant trend despite ozone increases in eastern China. Analysis of the Trajectory-mapped Ozonesonde data set for the Stratosphere and Troposphere (TOST) and trajectory residence time reveals increases in direct ozone transport from the eastern sector during autumn, which adds to the autumnal ozone increase. We further examine the links of ozone variability at WLG to the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM), and the sunspot cycle. Our results suggest that the 2–3-, 3–7-, and 11-year periodicities are linked to the QBO, EASM index, and sunspot cycle, respectively. A multivariate regression analysis is performed to quantify the relative contributions of various factors to surface ozone concentrations at WLG. Through an observational and modelling analysis, this study demonstrates the complex relationships between surface ozone at remote locations and its dynamical and chemical influencing factors.

scholarly journals New insight into the spatiotemporal variability and source apportionments of C<sub>1</sub>–C<sub>4</sub> alkyl nitrates in Hong Kong

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (16) ◽  
pp. 22597-22636
Author(s):  
Z. H. Ling ◽  
H. Guo ◽  
I. J. Simpson ◽  
S. M. Saunders ◽  
S. H. M. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Alkyl Nitrates ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Secondary Formation ◽  
Photochemical Processing ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract. Alkyl nitrates (RONO2) were measured concurrently at a mountain site (TMS) and an urban site (TW) at the foot of the same mountain in Hong Kong from September to November 2010, when high O3 mixing ratios were frequently observed. The abundance and temporal patterns of five C1–C4 RONO2 and their parent hydrocarbons (RH), the RONO2/RH ratios and photochemical age of air masses at TMS differed from those at TW, reflecting different contributions of direct emissions and secondary formation of RONO2 at the two sites. Relative to 2-BuONO2/n-butane, the measured ratios of C1–C2 RONO2/RH at the two sites exhibited significant positive deviations from pure photochemical (PP) curves and background initial ratio (BIR) curves obtained from laboratory kinetic data, suggesting that background mixing ratios had a significant influence on the RONO2 and RH distributions. In contrast to the C1–C2 RONO2/RH ratios, the evolution for the measured ratios of C3 RONO2/RH to 2-BuONO2/n-butane agreed well with the ratio distributions in the PP and BIR curves at the two sites. Furthermore, the ratios of 1-/2-PrONO2 and yields of 1- and 2-PrONO2 suggested that the C3 RONO2 were mainly from secondary formation at TMS, whereas secondary formation and other additional sources had a significant influence on C3 RONO2 mixing ratios at TW. The source apportionment results confirmed that secondary formation was the dominant contributor to all the RONO2 at TMS, while most of the RONO2 at TW were from secondary formation and biomass burning. The findings of the source apportionments and photochemical evolution of RONO2 are helpful to evaluate photochemical processing in Hong Kong using RONO2 as an indicator.

Surface ozone and meteorological condition in a single year at an urban site in central–eastern China

2008 ◽  
Vol 151 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 127-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenpo Shan ◽  
Yongquan Yin ◽  
Jianda Zhang ◽  
Xia Ji ◽  
Xingyan Deng
Keyword(s):  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Meteorological Condition ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Central Eastern

scholarly journals Concurrent observations of air pollutants at two sites in the Pearl River Delta and the implication of regional transport

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 9747-9791 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Guo ◽  
F. Jiang ◽  
H. R. Cheng ◽  
I. J. Simpson ◽  
X. M. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Pearl River Delta ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Pearl River ◽  
Regional Transport ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
A Site

Abstract. An intensive field measurement study was conducted simultaneously at a site within the inland Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (WQS) and a site in Hong Kong (TC) between 22 October and 1 December 2007. Ambient air pollutants measured included O3, NOx, CO, SO2, NMHCs, and carbonyls. The purpose is to improve our understanding of the interplay among local and regional air pollutants in the Hong Kong area, and the influence of regional transport on local air pollutants. The results indicate that the mean levels of air pollutants at the WQS site were much higher than those at the TC site, except NOx. Elevated CO levels were measured when the northerly monsoons enhanced mixing ratios at both sites, whereas high O3 episodes were usually observed when weather systems were relatively stable. Thirteen O3 episode days (daily O3 peak in excess of 122 ppbv) were monitored at WQS during the study period, while only 2 days were recorded at TC. The diurnal variations of air pollutants at the two sites were found to be rather different, suggesting different local and regional contributions. Ratio analyses for VOCs revealed that the air masses arriving at WQS were more aged than those arriving at TC, confirmed by the back trajectories analysis. In addition, the influence of regional transport from eastern China on the primary pollutants of Hong Kong was noticeable, whereas the air masses from the inland PRD region (e.g. Dongguan) had significant influence on the air pollutants at WQS. These results confirm that regional transport of air pollution has a complex and significant impact on local air pollutants in this region.

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