Aerosol hygroscopic growth, contributing factors and impact on haze events in a severely polluted region in northern China

Li, Zhanqing; Lv, Min; Wang, Yuying; Wang, Wei; Zhang, Yingjie; Wang, Haofei; Yan, Xiu‐Ping; Sun, Yele; Cribb, Maureen

doi:10.5194/acp-2018-753

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…For CHARMS, the median retrieved κ ext ( γ ) was 0.31 (0.66) and 0.27 (0.61) for 355 and 532 nm, respectively (Figures 1a and 1b). Values retrieved for γ are similar to those from the recent study by Chen et al (2019). Interestingly, the composition from the ACSM during CHARMS (see supporting information) indicated a likely presence of weak organic acids as compared to the more acidic aerosol in Chen et al (2019).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

et al. 2020

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Lidar retrievals of aerosol extinction and collocated relative humidity (RH) were acquired during the Department of Energy Combined High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) and Raman Measurement Study campaign in the summer of 2015 at the Southern Great Plains site in northern Oklahoma. Measurements of the hygroscopic properties of aerosols are crucial for accurately representing their relationship with clouds, which can be a significant source of uncertainty in assessing direct and indirect radiative effects. The ability for lidar to retrieve measurements of the vertically resolved f (RH), that is, the aerosol extinction at some wet RH normalized by the aerosol extinction at a dry reference RH, is investigated here and compared with nephelometer-measured f (RH) at the surface. We introduce a modified approach to fitting the lidar measurements of aerosol extinction and our comparisons reveal that lidar and nephelometer measurements of f (RH) are consistent, both with each other and with reported values in the literature. The implications for this work present a path forward for global-scale retrievals of remotely sensed aerosol hygroscopic properties. Most importantly, the efforts in this study could lead to closing the gap on uncertainties associated with the aerosol indirect radiative effect when combined with inversion retrievals of aerosol microphysical properties.Plain Language Summary Atmospheric aerosols, or tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, are an important component of the climate system. These particles can sometimes undergo humidification processes that allow them to grow in size and scatter more solar radiation. When certain conditions are met, aerosols can grow to become cloud droplets and modify cloud properties like brightness or reflectivity. Remote sensing systems can observe optical properties of aerosols on a large scale and in a timely fashion. However, some essential aspects of these aerosols, like their humidification properties, remain a challenge for remote sensing instruments to obtain. In this study, we demonstrate the capability of a unique lidar system to expand the current set of observations that are regularly retrieved by remote sensing instruments. Specifically, we make simultaneous retrievals of the atmospheric relative humidity and aerosol light extinction coefficients by combining Raman and High Spectral Resolution Lidar. We show that this system can accurately retrieve humidification properties of aerosols within the atmospheric mixed layer. These results reach a considerable milestone for the future advancement of remote sensing lidar and represent a path forward in reducing climate forcing uncertainty.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

et al. 2020

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“…Comparatively, measurements made at Xingtai, one of the most polluted regions in China, showed that aerosol particles are more hydrophilic and thus have a stronger swelling effect associated with the internal mixing of secondary aerosol species (Wang et al, ). By combining aerosol chemical composition measurements, Chen et al () further analyzed the roles of different aerosol species in affecting aerosol hygroscopic growth in Xingtai. However, most measurements of hygroscopicity are currently limited to the ground level.…”

Section: Aerosol Formation Nucleation Optical Properties and Radiamentioning

confidence: 99%

East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols and their Impact on Regional Clouds, Precipitation, and Climate (EAST‐AIR_CPC)

et al. 2019

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Aerosols have significant and complex impacts on regional climate in East Asia. Cloud‐aerosol‐precipitation interactions (CAPI) remain most challenging in climate studies. The quantitative understanding of CAPI requires good knowledge of aerosols, ranging from their formation, composition, transport, and their radiative, hygroscopic, and microphysical properties. A comprehensive review is presented here centered on the CAPI based chiefly, but not limited to, publications in the special section named EAST‐AIRcpc concerning (1) observations of aerosol loading and properties, (2) relationships between aerosols and meteorological variables affecting CAPI, (3) mechanisms behind CAPI, and (4) quantification of CAPI and their impact on climate. Heavy aerosol loading in East Asia has significant radiative effects by reducing surface radiation, increasing the air temperature, and lowering the boundary layer height. A key factor is aerosol absorption, which is particularly strong in central China. This absorption can have a wide range of impacts such as creating an imbalance of aerosol radiative forcing at the top and bottom of the atmosphere, leading to inconsistent retrievals of cloud variables from space‐borne and ground‐based instruments. Aerosol radiative forcing can delay or suppress the initiation and development of convective clouds whose microphysics can be further altered by the microphysical effect of aerosols. For the same cloud thickness, the likelihood of precipitation is influenced by aerosols: suppressing light rain and enhancing heavy rain, delaying but intensifying thunderstorms, and reducing the onset of isolated showers in most parts of China. Rainfall has become more inhomogeneous and more extreme in the heavily polluted urban regions.

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“…Average aerosol hygroscopicity, especially for the more hygroscopic mode, usually increased with pollution levels (Massling et al, 2009;Wu et al, 2016;Y. Wang et al, 2017b;Chen et al, 2019;Ding et al, 2019;, which is attributed to increased mass fractions of secondary inorganic aerosols. However, different results were also reported, especially for particles at or below 50 nm (Achtert et al, 2009;Meier et al, 2009; for which primary emissions could play an important role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wang et al, 2018a), aerosol hygroscopicity on a clean day (21 May) was compared with that on a highly polluted day (23 May). Aerosol hygroscopicity was higher on the polluted day (Chen et al, 2019), likely due to the enhanced formation of nitrate as revealed by aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM) measurements. Furthermore, aerosol hygroscopicity increased with particle size (40-200 nm) on both days, with average κ values increasing from 0.288 to 0.339 on 21 May and from 0.325 to 0.352 on 23 May (Chen et al, 2019).…”

Section: Hebei Provincementioning

confidence: 99%

Tropospheric aerosol hygroscopicity in China

Peng

Wang

et al. 2020

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. Hygroscopicity largely determines phase state, chemical reactivity, optical properties, and cloud nucleation activities of aerosol particles, thus significantly affecting their impacts on visibility, atmospheric chemistry, and climate. In the last 20 years, a large number of field studies have investigated the hygroscopicity of tropospheric aerosols in China under subsaturated and supersaturated conditions. Aerosol hygroscopicity measurements in China are reviewed in this paper: (1) a comprehensive summary and critical discussion of aerosol hygroscopicity measurements in China are provided; (2) available measurement data are compiled and presented under a consistent framework to enhance their accessibility and usability; and (3) current knowledge gaps are identified, and an outlook which could serve as guidelines for planning future research is also proposed.

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Aerosol hygroscopic growth, contributing factors and impact on haze events in a severely polluted region in northern China

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols and their Impact on Regional Clouds, Precipitation, and Climate (EAST‐AIR_CPC)

Tropospheric aerosol hygroscopicity in China

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Aerosol hygroscopic growth, contributing factors and impact on haze events in a severely polluted region in northern China

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

Ambient Aerosol Hygroscopic Growth From Combined Raman Lidar and HSRL

East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols and their Impact on Regional Clouds, Precipitation, and Climate (EAST‐AIRCPC)

Tropospheric aerosol hygroscopicity in China

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East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols and their Impact on Regional Clouds, Precipitation, and Climate (EAST‐AIR_CPC)