DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: New positive feedback mechanism between boundary layer meteorology and secondary aerosol formation during severe haze events

Abstract

Severe haze events during which particulate matter (PM) increases quickly from tens to hundreds of microgram per cubic meter in 1-2 days frequently occur in China. Although it has been known that PM is influenced by complex interplays among emissions, meteorology, and physical and chemical processes, specific mechanisms remain elusive. In this paper, a new positive feedback mechanism between planetary boundary layer (PBL), relative humidity (RH), and secondary PM (SPM) formation is proposed based on a comprehensive field experiment and model simulation. The decreased PBL associated with increased PM increases RH by weakening the vertical transport of water vapor; the increased RH in turn enhances the SPM formation through heterogeneous aqueous reactions, which further enhances PM, weakens solar radiation, and decreases PBL height. This positive feedback, together with the PM-Radiation-PBL feedback, constitutes a key mechanism that links PM, radiation, PBL properties (e.g. PBL height and RH), and SPM formation, This mechanism is self-amplifying, leading to faster PM production, accumulation, and more severe haze pollution.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [2]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [8]
  1. Beijing Weather Modification Office (China); China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (China). Inst. of Urban Meterorology
  2. China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (China). Inst. of Urban Meterorology
  3. China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (China). Inst. of Urban Meterorology; Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  4. Lanzhou Univ. (China). College of Atmospheric sciences
  5. Beijing Weather Modification Office (China)
  6. Beijing Meteorological Bureau (China)
  7. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China). Inst. of Atmospheric Physics
  8. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Key Technologies R&D Program (China); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
OSTI Identifier:
1433943
Report Number(s):
BNL-203517-2018-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0012704; 2017YFC0209604; 41505119; IUMKY201709
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Scientific Reports
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Atmospheric chemistry; Environmental monitoring; haze; planetary boundary layer; secondary aerosol formation; feedback mechanism

Citation Formats

Liu, Quan, Jia, Xingcan, Quan, Jiannong, Li, Jiayun, Li, Xia, Wu, Yongxue, Chen, Dan, Wang, Zifa, and Liu, Yangang. New positive feedback mechanism between boundary layer meteorology and secondary aerosol formation during severe haze events. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24366-3.
Liu, Quan, Jia, Xingcan, Quan, Jiannong, Li, Jiayun, Li, Xia, Wu, Yongxue, Chen, Dan, Wang, Zifa, & Liu, Yangang. New positive feedback mechanism between boundary layer meteorology and secondary aerosol formation during severe haze events. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24366-3
Liu, Quan, Jia, Xingcan, Quan, Jiannong, Li, Jiayun, Li, Xia, Wu, Yongxue, Chen, Dan, Wang, Zifa, and Liu, Yangang. Tue . "New positive feedback mechanism between boundary layer meteorology and secondary aerosol formation during severe haze events". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24366-3. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1433943.
@article{osti_1433943,
title = {New positive feedback mechanism between boundary layer meteorology and secondary aerosol formation during severe haze events},
author = {Liu, Quan and Jia, Xingcan and Quan, Jiannong and Li, Jiayun and Li, Xia and Wu, Yongxue and Chen, Dan and Wang, Zifa and Liu, Yangang},
abstractNote = {Severe haze events during which particulate matter (PM) increases quickly from tens to hundreds of microgram per cubic meter in 1-2 days frequently occur in China. Although it has been known that PM is influenced by complex interplays among emissions, meteorology, and physical and chemical processes, specific mechanisms remain elusive. In this paper, a new positive feedback mechanism between planetary boundary layer (PBL), relative humidity (RH), and secondary PM (SPM) formation is proposed based on a comprehensive field experiment and model simulation. The decreased PBL associated with increased PM increases RH by weakening the vertical transport of water vapor; the increased RH in turn enhances the SPM formation through heterogeneous aqueous reactions, which further enhances PM, weakens solar radiation, and decreases PBL height. This positive feedback, together with the PM-Radiation-PBL feedback, constitutes a key mechanism that links PM, radiation, PBL properties (e.g. PBL height and RH), and SPM formation, This mechanism is self-amplifying, leading to faster PM production, accumulation, and more severe haze pollution.},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-24366-3},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
number = 1,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 75 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

“APEC Blue”: Secondary Aerosol Reductions from Emission Controls in Beijing
journal, February 2016

  • Sun, Yele; Wang, Zifa; Wild, Oliver
  • Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1038/srep20668

Sources and Processes Affecting Fine Particulate Matter Pollution over North China: An Adjoint Analysis of the Beijing APEC Period
journal, August 2016

  • Zhang, Lin; Shao, Jingyuan; Lu, Xiao
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 50, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03010

Studying the effects of aerosols on vertical photolysis rate coefficient and temperature profiles over an urban airshed
journal, May 1998

  • Jacobson, Mark Z.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 103, Issue D9
  • DOI: 10.1029/98JD00287

Mechanism for the formation of the January 2013 heavy haze pollution episode over central and eastern China
journal, November 2013


Effects of meteorology and secondary particle formation on visibility during heavy haze events in Beijing, China
journal, January 2015


Radiative effects of aerosols on the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer
journal, January 2002


Fully coupled “online” chemistry within the WRF model
journal, December 2005


Observational study of influence of aerosol hygroscopic growth on scattering coefficient over rural area near Beijing mega-city
journal, January 2009


Finding Boundary Layer Top: Application of a Wavelet Covariance Transform to Lidar Backscatter Profiles
journal, August 2003


Elucidating severe urban haze formation in China
journal, November 2014

  • Guo, Song; Hu, Min; Zamora, Misti L.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 111, Issue 49
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1419604111

Hygroscopic properties of aerosol particles at high relative humidity and their diurnal variations in the North China Plain
journal, January 2011


Impact of an improved longwave radiation model, RRTM, on the energy budget and thermodynamic properties of the NCAR community climate model, CCM3
journal, June 2000

  • Iacono, Michael J.; Mlawer, Eli J.; Clough, Shepard A.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 105, Issue D11
  • DOI: 10.1029/2000JD900091

Effect of heterogeneous aqueous reactions on the secondary formation of inorganic aerosols during haze events
journal, December 2015


Enhanced air pollution via aerosol-boundary layer feedback in China
journal, January 2016

  • Petäjä, T.; Järvi, L.; Kerminen, V. -M.
  • Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1038/srep18998

Variability of SO2 in an intensive fog in North China Plain: Evidence of high solubility of SO2
journal, February 2013


Horizontal visibility trends in China 1981–2005
journal, January 2007

  • Che, Huizheng; Zhang, Xiaoye; Li, Yang
  • Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 34, Issue 24
  • DOI: 10.1029/2007GL031450

Exploring the severe winter haze in Beijing: the impact of synoptic weather, regional transport and heterogeneous reactions
journal, January 2015


High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze events in China
journal, September 2014

  • Huang, Ru-Jin; Zhang, Yanlin; Bozzetti, Carlo
  • Nature, Vol. 514, Issue 7521
  • DOI: 10.1038/nature13774

Air pollution in mega cities in China
journal, January 2008


Reactive nitrogen chemistry in aerosol water as a source of sulfate during haze events in China
journal, December 2016


Impact of aerosol–meteorology interactions on fine particle pollution during China’s severe haze episode in January 2013
journal, September 2014


A possible positive feedback of reduction of precipitation and increase in aerosols over eastern central China
journal, January 2006

  • Zhao, Chunsheng; Tie, Xuexi; Lin, Yunping
  • Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33, Issue 11
  • DOI: 10.1029/2006GL025959

Climate Effects of Black Carbon Aerosols in China and India
journal, September 2002


Interpretation of organic components from Positive Matrix Factorization of aerosol mass spectrometric data
journal, January 2009

  • Ulbrich, I. M.; Canagaratna, M. R.; Zhang, Q.
  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 9, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.5194/acp-9-2891-2009

Chemical and microphysical characterization of ambient aerosols with the aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer
journal, January 2007

  • Canagaratna, M. R.; Jayne, J. T.; Jimenez, J. L.
  • Mass Spectrometry Reviews, Vol. 26, Issue 2
  • DOI: 10.1002/mas.20115

Climate Forcing by Anthropogenic Aerosols
journal, January 1992


Analysis of the formation of fog and haze in North China Plain (NCP)
journal, January 2011


Anthropogenic water vapor emissions in Tokyo: ANTHROPOGENIC WATER VAPOR
journal, November 2008

  • Moriwaki, Ryo; Kanda, Manabu; Senoo, Hiroshi
  • Water Resources Research, Vol. 44, Issue 11
  • DOI: 10.1029/2007WR006624

Field-Deployable, High-Resolution, Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
journal, December 2006

  • DeCarlo, Peter F.; Kimmel, Joel R.; Trimborn, Achim
  • Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 78, Issue 24
  • DOI: 10.1021/ac061249n

Characteristics of heavy aerosol pollution during the 2012–2013 winter in Beijing, China
journal, May 2014


Impact of nocturnal planetary boundary layer on urban air pollutants: Measurements from a 250-m tower over Tianjin, China
journal, February 2009


Simulations of sulfate–nitrate–ammonium (SNA) aerosols during the extreme haze events over northern China in October 2014
journal, January 2016


Model for Simulating Aerosol Interactions and Chemistry (MOSAIC)
journal, January 2008

  • Zaveri, Rahul A.; Easter, Richard C.; Fast, Jerome D.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 113, Issue D13
  • DOI: 10.1029/2007JD008782

Lidar measurements of the atmospheric entrainment zone and the potential temperature jump across the top of the mixed layer
journal, March 1986

  • Boers, R.; Eloranta, E. W.
  • Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol. 34, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1007/BF00120988

Impact of emission controls on air quality in Beijing during APEC 2014: lidar ceilometer observations
journal, January 2015


Two decades of urban climate research: a review of turbulence, exchanges of energy and water, and the urban heat island
journal, January 2003

  • Arnfield, A. John
  • International Journal of Climatology, Vol. 23, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1002/joc.859

Aerosol effects on the photochemistry in Mexico City during MCMA-2006/MILAGRO campaign
journal, January 2011


Ambient aerosol sampling using the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
journal, January 2003


Evolution of planetary boundary layer under different weather conditions, and its impact on aerosol concentrations
journal, February 2013


Bounding the role of black carbon in the climate system: A scientific assessment: BLACK CARBON IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM
journal, June 2013

  • Bond, T. C.; Doherty, S. J.; Fahey, D. W.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 118, Issue 11
  • DOI: 10.1002/jgrd.50171

Intensification of aerosol pollution associated with its feedback with surface solar radiation and winds in Beijing: Aerosol Intensification by Feedback
journal, April 2016

  • Yang, Xin; Zhao, Chuanfeng; Guo, Jianping
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 121, Issue 8
  • DOI: 10.1002/2015JD024645

Characterization of speciated aerosol direct radiative forcing over California: AEROSOL DIRECT RADIATIVE FORCING
journal, March 2013

  • Zhao, Chun; Ruby Leung, L.; Easter, Richard
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 118, Issue 5
  • DOI: 10.1029/2012JD018364

Aerosol effects on the photochemistry in Mexico City during MCMA-2006/MILAGRO campaign
journal, January 2011


Analysis of the formation of fog and haze in North China Plain (NCP)
journal, January 2011


High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze events in China
text, January 2014

  • Zhang, Yanlin; Baltensperger, Urs; Schnelle-Kreis, Jürgen
  • Macmillan Journals Ltd.
  • DOI: 10.7892/boris.59537

Two decades of urban climate research: a review of turbulence, exchanges of energy and water, and the urban heat island
journal, January 2003

  • Arnfield, A. John
  • International Journal of Climatology, Vol. 23, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1002/joc.859

Mechanism for the formation of the January 2013 heavy haze pollution episode over central and eastern China
journal, November 2013


Fully coupled “online” chemistry within the WRF model
journal, December 2005


Air pollution in mega cities in China
journal, January 2008


Characteristics of heavy aerosol pollution during the 2012–2013 winter in Beijing, China
journal, May 2014


Effect of heterogeneous aqueous reactions on the secondary formation of inorganic aerosols during haze events
journal, December 2015


Impact of nocturnal planetary boundary layer on urban air pollutants: Measurements from a 250-m tower over Tianjin, China
journal, February 2009


Effects of meteorology and secondary particle formation on visibility during heavy haze events in Beijing, China
journal, January 2015


Field-Deployable, High-Resolution, Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
journal, December 2006

  • DeCarlo, Peter F.; Kimmel, Joel R.; Trimborn, Achim
  • Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 78, Issue 24
  • DOI: 10.1021/ac061249n

Sources and Processes Affecting Fine Particulate Matter Pollution over North China: An Adjoint Analysis of the Beijing APEC Period
journal, August 2016

  • Zhang, Lin; Shao, Jingyuan; Lu, Xiao
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 50, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03010

A new lumped structure photochemical mechanism for large-scale applications
journal, December 1999

  • Zaveri, Rahul A.; Peters, Leonard K.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 104, Issue D23
  • DOI: 10.1029/1999jd900876

Elucidating severe urban haze formation in China
journal, November 2014

  • Guo, Song; Hu, Min; Zamora, Misti L.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 111, Issue 49
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1419604111

Impact of aerosol–meteorology interactions on fine particle pollution during China’s severe haze episode in January 2013
journal, September 2014


Reactive nitrogen chemistry in aerosol water as a source of sulfate during haze events in China
journal, December 2016


Climate Effects of Black Carbon Aerosols in China and India
journal, September 2002


Climate Forcing by Anthropogenic Aerosols
journal, January 1992


Boundary Layer Height and Entrainment Zone Thickness Measured by Lidars and Wind-Profiling Radars
journal, August 2000


Exploring the severe winter haze in Beijing: the impact of synoptic weather, regional transport and heterogeneous reactions
journal, January 2015


Aerosol effects on the photochemistry in Mexico City during MCMA-2006/MILAGRO campaign
journal, January 2011


Works referencing / citing this record:

Interaction Between Planetary Boundary Layer and PM2.5 Pollution in Megacities in China: a Review
journal, September 2019


Modeling of the Effects of Wintertime Aerosols on Boundary Layer Properties Over the Indo Gangetic Plain
journal, April 2019

  • Bharali, Chandrakala; Nair, Vijayakumar S.; Chutia, Lakhima
  • Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 124, Issue 7
  • DOI: 10.1029/2018jd029758

Impacts of atmospheric vertical structures on transboundary aerosol transport from China to South Korea
journal, September 2019


The impact of aerosol–radiation interactions on the effectiveness of emission control measures
journal, January 2019


Assessing the formation and evolution mechanisms of severe haze pollution in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region using process analysis
journal, January 2019


Aerosol–radiation feedback deteriorates the wintertime haze in the North China Plain
journal, January 2019


Is water vapor a key player of the wintertime haze in North China Plain?
journal, January 2019


Rapid formation of intense haze episodes via aerosol–boundary layer feedback in Beijing
journal, January 2020

  • Wang, Yonghong; Yu, Miao; Wang, Yuesi
  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 20, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.5194/acp-20-45-2020

Impacts of atmospheric vertical structures on transboundary aerosol transport from China to South Korea
journal, September 2019