The impact of meteorological changes from 2013 to 2017 on PM2.5 mass reduction in key regions in China

Zhang, Xiaoye; Xu, Xiangde; Ding, Yihui; Liu, Yanju; Zhang, Hengde; Wang, Yaqiang; Zhong, Junting

doi:10.1007/s11430-019-9343-3

Cited by 173 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Meteorological conditions, especially transport and dispersion, could significantly influence PM 2.5 concentration (Ding et al, 2013a, b;Zhang et al, 2016). From the air quality management perspectives, it is very important to quantify the influence of emission reduction and year-to-year change in meteorology based on the observed trend of air pollutants.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To tackle this great challenge, China has been implementing the "Action Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control" (i.e., the so-called national "Ten Measures of air") in several developed critical regions since 2013 (Sheehan et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2018Liu et al, , 2019Zheng et al, 2018). Measurement data, mainly from the ambient air quality monitoring network, showed some evidence of improved haze pollution in many cities in recent years Lang et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2019). However, to give a robust and quantitative assessment of the change due to specific emission reduction, high-quality long-term contin-A.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, to give a robust and quantitative assessment of the change due to specific emission reduction, high-quality long-term contin-A. Ding et al: Significant reduction of PM 2.5 in eastern China uous measurements of PM 2.5 and its chemical composition and precursors together with comprehensive data analysis and model simulations are needed because PM 2.5 has complex chemical compositions, sources and formation mechanisms (Pathak et al, 2009;Wen et al, 2018), and a strong dependence on yearto-year meteorology (Zheng et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2016Zhang et al, , 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

et al. 2019

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Abstract. Haze pollution caused by PM2.5 is the largest air quality concern in China in recent years. Long-term measurements of PM2.5 and the precursors and chemical speciation are crucially important for evaluating the efficiency of emission control, understanding formation and transport of PM2.5 associated with the change of meteorology, and accessing the impact of human activities on regional climate change. Here we reported long-term continuous measurements of PM2.5, chemical components, and their precursors at a regional background station, the Station for Observing Regional Processes of the Earth System (SORPES), in Nanjing, eastern China, since 2011. We found that PM2.5 at the station has experienced a substantial decrease (−9.1 % yr−1), accompanied by even a very significant reduction of SO2 (−16.7 % yr−1), since the national “Ten Measures of Air” took action in 2013. Control of open biomass burning and fossil-fuel combustion are the two dominant factors that influence the PM2.5 reduction in early summer and winter, respectively. In the cold season (November–January), the nitrate fraction was significantly increased, especially when air masses were transported from the north. More NH3 available from a substantial reduction of SO2 and increased oxidization capacity are the main factors for the enhanced nitrate formation. The changes of year-to-year meteorology have contributed to 24 % of the PM2.5 decrease since 2013. This study highlights several important implications on air pollution control policy in China.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

et al. 2019

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“…The chemical composition of PM 2.5 also changed significantly over China, with especially large decreases in levels of organic matter, mineral components, and sulfate aerosols 9 . Studies have suggested that emission control has a dominant effect on PM 2.5 reduction compared to inter-annual meteorological variation [10][11][12] . Further research using bottom-up emission inventory and numerical models revealed that different emission control measures contribute to reductions in PM 2.5 6,13 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Paradigm shift in aerosol chemical composition over regions downwind of China

Uno

Wang

Itahashi

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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A rapid decrease in pM 2.5 concentrations in china has been observed in response to the enactment of strong emission control policies. From 2012 to 2017, total emissions of SO 2 and no x from china decreased by approximately 63% and 24%, respectively. Simultaneously, decreases in the PM 2.5 concentration in Japan have been observed since 2014, and the proportion of stations that satisfy the pM 2.5 environmental standard (daily, 35 µg/m 3 ; annual average, 15 µg/m 3 ) increased from 37.8% in fiscal year (FY) 2014 (April 2014 to March 2015) to 89.9% in FY 2017. However, the quantitative relationship between the pM 2.5 improvement in china and the pM 2.5 concentration in downwind regions is not well understood. Here, we (1) quantitatively evaluate the impacts of Chinese environmental improvements on downwind areas using source/receptor analysis with a chemical transport model, and (2) show that these rapid emissions reductions improved pM 2.5 concentrations both in china and its downwind regions, but the difference between SO 2 and no x reduction rates led to greater production of nitrates (e.g., NH 4 no 3 ) due to a chemical imbalance in the ammonia-nitric acid-sulfuric acid-water system. Observations from a clean remote island in western Japan and numerical modeling confirmed this paradigm shift.The long-range trans-boundary transport behavior of pollutants in East Asia is an important environmental issue due to frequent outflows of heavy pollution. Among pollutants, PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter) poses serious human health risks, including lung cancer, respiratory disease, and asthma, particularly over China and its downwind regions 1-5 . Serious PM 2.5 pollution has been observed in the northern China region since the early 2010s. To reduce this pollution, China has implemented active clean air policies in recent years (e.g., the Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, enacted in September 2013). These plans include the phasing out of outdated industrial capacity, small high-emission factories, and small coal-fired industrial boilers, as well as the strengthening of emission standards for power plants, industries, and vehicles, and the replacement of residential coal use with electricity and natural gas 6,7 . These strong emission-reduction policies in China have led to a successful reduction in PM 2.5 concentration (e.g., PM 2.5 concentrations decreased from 102 µg/m 3 in 2013 to 43 µg/m 3 in 2019, as observed at the U.S. embassy in Beijing). Rapid reductions in SO 2 and NO x emissions were also confirmed using environmental satellite data 8 and bottom-up emissions inventory studies 1 . MODIS AOD (aerosol optical depth) data revealed that there has been a consistent trend of year-to-year decreases in China and its downwind regions. The chemical composition of PM 2.5 also changed significantly over China, with especially large decreases in levels of organic matter, mineral components, and sulfate aerosols 9 . Studies have suggested that emission control has a dominant e...

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“…The mixing layer referred to the atmospheric layer with sufficient turbulence below the discontinuous-turbulence interface [54][55][56]. The MLH affected the vertical diffusion of pollutants.…”

Section: Iti Itk Lhti and Mlhmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteorological Variables and Synoptic Patterns Associated with Air Pollutions in Eastern China during 2013–2018

Dai

Liu

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Steady meteorological conditions are important external factors affecting air pollution. In order to analyze how adverse meteorological variables affect air pollution, surface synoptic situation patterns and meteorological conditions during heavy pollution episodes are discussed. The results showed that there were 78 RPHPDs (regional PM 2.5 pollution days) in Jiangsu, with a decreasing trend year by year. Winter had the most stable meteorological conditions, thus most RPHPDs appeared in winter, followed by autumn and summer, with the least days in spring. RPHPDs were classified into three patterns, respectively, as equalized pressure (EQP), advancing edge of a cold front (ACF) and inverted trough of low pressure (INT) according to the SLP (sea level pressure). RPHPDs under EQP were the most (51%), followed by ACF (37%); INT was the minimum (12%). Using statistical methods and meteorological condition data on RPHPDs from 2013 to 2017 to deduce the thresholds and 2018 as an independent dataset to validate the proposed thresholds, the threshold values of meteorological elements are summarized as follows. The probability of RPHPDs without rain was above 92% with the daily and hourly precipitation of all RPHPDs below 2.1 mm and 0.8 mm. Wind speed, RHs, inversion intensity(ITI), height difference in the temperature inversion(ITK), the lower height of temperature inversion (LHTI) and mixed-layer height (MLH) in terms of 25%-75% high probability range were respectively within 0.5-3.6 m s −1 , 55%-92%, 0.7-4.0 • C 100 m −1 , 42-576 m, 3-570 m, 200-1200 m. Two conditions should be considered: whether the pattern was EQP, ACF or INT and whether the eight meteorological elements are within the thresholds. If both criteria are met, PM 2.5 particles tend to accumulate and air pollution diffusion conditions are poor. Unfavorable meteorological conditions are the necessary, but not sufficient condition for RPHPDs.

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The impact of meteorological changes from 2013 to 2017 on PM2.5 mass reduction in key regions in China

Cited by 173 publications

References 28 publications

Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

Paradigm shift in aerosol chemical composition over regions downwind of China

Meteorological Variables and Synoptic Patterns Associated with Air Pollutions in Eastern China during 2013–2018

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The impact of meteorological changes from 2013 to 2017 on PM2.5 mass reduction in key regions in China

Cited by 173 publications

References 28 publications

Significant reduction of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

Significant reduction of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

Paradigm shift in aerosol chemical composition over regions downwind of China

Meteorological Variables and Synoptic Patterns Associated with Air Pollutions in Eastern China during 2013–2018

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Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018

Significant reduction of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in eastern China due to regional-scale emission control: evidence from SORPES in 2011–2018