Regional atmospheric pollutant transport mechanisms over the North China Plain driven by topography and planetary boundary layer processes

Journal Article · 05 November 2019 · Atmospheric Environment (1994)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.117098 · OSTI ID:1583100

Quan, Jiannong ^[1]; Dou, Youjun ^[1]; Zhao, Xiujuan ^[1]; Liu, Quan  ^[2]; Sun, Zhaobin  ^[1]; Pan, Yubing ^[1]; Jia, Xingcan ^[1]; Cheng, Zhigang ^[1]; Ma, Pengkun ^[1]; Su, Jie ^[1]; Xin, Jinyuan ^[3]; Liu, Yangang  ^[4]

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1. Inst. of Urban Meteorology, CMA, Beijing (China)
2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Cloud, Beijing (China)
3. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China)
4. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Comprehensive measurements were conducted in winter 2018 and combined with RMPAS-Chem model simulations to analyze the regional transport mechanisms of atmospheric pollutants over the North China Plain. The instruments used consisted of four Vaisala CL51 ceilometers for planetary boundary layer (PBL) heights and aerosol backscatter profiles, two wind profilers, one radiosonde for the profiles of meteorological variables, and an instrumented King-Air 350 aircraft for the profiles of atmospheric pollutants and meteorological variables. Additionally, observations from Environmental Protection Bureau stations were also analyzed, including hourly concentrations of surface PM_2.5, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃. The results suggest that regional atmospheric pollutant transport is driven by a combination of topography and PBL processes. First, a mountain-induced vertical vortex forms over downwind regions; this elevates ground pollutants to form an elevated pollutant layer (EPL) at an altitude of 1.4-1.7 km. The EPL is then transported to Beijing via an enhanced southerly wind. Lastly, the pollutants in the EPL are transported downward to the surface through PBL processes.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 1583100
• Report Number(s): BNL-213533-2020-JAAM
• Journal Information: Atmospheric Environment (1994), Vol. 221, Issue C; ISSN 1352-2310
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English