Visual Range Trends in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China, 1981–2005

Abstract

Visual range (VR) data from 1981 to 2005 were examined for 20 meteorological monitoring sites in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China. Cumulative percentile analysis was used to construct VR trend. The 25-yr average domain-average 50% VR was approximately 21.9 Ϯ1.9 km. Domain-average 50% VR decreased from 1981 to 2005 with a trend of Ϫ2.41 km/decade. The worst 20% and 50% and best 20% VR and variation rates for the 20 sites were analyzed. The 50% VR of the town, county-level city, and prefecture-level city sites were 24.1, 21.5, and 19.4 km, respectively. The best 20% VR decreased fastest with a rate of Ϫ3.5 km/decade. Regional median VR decreased from the coastal sites to the inland sites. Ridit analysis and cumulative percentile were adopted to study the VR variation properties between economically developed areas (e.g., Nanjing and Hangzhou) and remote areas (e.g., Lvsi). The two analyses show that VR decreased in Nanjing and Hangzhou but remained constant in Lvsi from 1981 to 2005. IMPLICATIONSDecreasing VR corresponds to greater industrialization and particulate concentrations. Moving pollution sources from the coastal to inland locations only moves the decreasing visibility elsewhere. This work offered a good opportunity to comprehend the VR variation in the most developed region of China over the last 2 decades.

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