Recent Progress in Atmospheric Chemistry Research in China: Establishing a Theoretical Framework for the “Air Pollution Complex”

Abstract

Atmospheric chemistry research has been growing rapidly in China in the last 25 years since the concept of the “air pollution complex” was first proposed by Professor Xiaoyan TANG in 1997. For papers published in 2021 on air pollution (only papers included in the Web of Science Core Collection database were considered), more than 24 000 papers were authored or co-authored by scientists working in China. In this paper, we review a limited number of representative and significant studies on atmospheric chemistry in China in the last few years, including studies on (1) sources and emission inventories, (2) atmospheric chemical processes, (3) interactions of air pollution with meteorology, weather and climate, (4) interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere, and (5) data assimilation. The intention was not to provide a complete review of all progress made in the last few years, but rather to serve as a starting point for learning more about atmospheric chemistry research in China. The advances reviewed in this paper have enabled a theoretical framework for the air pollution complex to be established, provided robust scientific support to highly successful air pollution control policies in China, and created great opportunities in education, training, and career development for many graduate students and young scientists. This paper further highlights that developing and low-income countries that are heavily affected by air pollution can benefit from these research advances, whilst at the same time acknowledging that many challenges and opportunities still remain in atmospheric chemistry research in China, to hopefully be addressed over the next few decades.

Temporal evolution and source apportionment of BC aerosols during autumn in the grassland of Ordos, China

“…Table 1 indicates that the BC mass concentration was 22.4-4667.5 ng m À3 in Etuoke Banner, with an average value of 456.6 ng m À3 , accounting for 2.20% of the mass fraction of PM 2.5 . The BC mass concentration in Etuoke Banner is much lower than that in Beijing (Liu et al, 2018), Nanjing (Shen, Wang, Kong, Zhang, et al, 2021), Guangzhou (Lin et al, 2019), Wuhan (Zheng et al, 2022), and Chengdu (Yuan et al, 2022), and even lower than that in Litang on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Wang, Liu, et al, 2023). BC liquid , as the main component of BC, has an average value of 361.7 ng m À3 in Etuoke Banner, approximately 79.2% of BC.…”

“…In China, numerous in-depth studies on the characteristics of BC pollution have been carried out in dense urban agglomeration areas such as the North China Plain (NCP) region, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, the Twain-Hu Basin, and the Sichuan Basin (Chen, Zhao, et al, 2023;Lin et al, 2019;Pei et al, 2022;Wan et al, 2023;Wei et al, 2023;Yang et al, 2022;Yuan et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2023;Zheng et al, 2022). Yang et al (2022) found that the refractory BC (rBC) core mass size distribution was bimodal, with a small secondary mode at $687 nm in NCP.…”

Single Droplet Tweezer Revealing the Reaction Mechanism of Mn(II)-Catalyzed SO2 Oxidation

“…Fine particulate matters (PM 2.5 ) is the primary contributor to severe haze events in urban areas in China, with profound implications for global climate, social economy, and public health. − The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards in China set the annual average PM 2.5 level to be below 35 μg/m 3 , a standard much higher than the 5 μg/m 3 value recommended by the World Health Organization. , Despite a significant reduction in SO 2 emissions in China, taking Beijing as an example, with annual average SO 2 concentrations decreased by 82% from 22 ppb in 2013 to 4 ppb in 2018, sulfate concentrations experienced a more modest decline of 37%, falling from 19.1 μg/m 3 in 2013 to 12.1 μg/m 3 in 2018 . The noted discrepancy, also observed in other regions globally and particularly pronounced during wintertime, presents a formidable challenge for air pollution control in China and worldwide …”

Revealing the Contribution of Interfacial Processes to Atmospheric Oxidizing Capacity in Haze Chemistry

“…The complex air pollution in China is characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter and gas pollutants such as NOx, NH 3 , and VOCs. 79 In particular, primary and secondary particles with high concentrations provide a huge reaction interface for multiphase and heterogeneous reactions. The enormous, highly reactive surface of atmospheric particulate matter significantly enhances the oxidizing capacity, which causes the explosive transformation of gaseous pollutants to particulate matter and reduces the atmospheric environmental capacity for primary emissions.…”

“…The complex air pollution in China is characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter and gas pollutants such as NOx, NH 3 , and VOCs . In particular, primary and secondary particles with high concentrations provide a huge reaction interface for multiphase and heterogeneous reactions.…”