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Title: Source sector and region contributions to BC and PM2.5 in Central Asia

Journal Article · · Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online)
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  1. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)
  2. Wisconsin State Lab. of Hygiene, Madison, WI (United States); Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
  3. U.S. EPA, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  5. European Commission, Ispra (Italy). Joint Research Centre
  6. National Center for Atmospheric Physics, Moscow (Russia)
  7. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Moscow (Russia)
  8. Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic Univ., Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
  9. Wisconsin State Lab. of Hygiene, Madison, WI (United States)
  10. ARIANET, Milan (Italy)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations, seasonal cycles, source sector, and source region contributions in Central Asia (CA) are analyzed for the period April 2008–July 2009 using the Sulfur Transport and dEposition Model (STEM) chemical transport model and modeled meteorology from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Predicted aerosol optical depth (AOD) values (annual mean value ~0.2) in CA vary seasonally, with lowest values in the winter. Surface PM2.5 concentrations (annual mean value ~10 μg m−3) also exhibit a seasonal cycle, with peak values and largest variability in the spring/summer, and lowest values and variability in the winter (hourly values from 2 to 90 μg m−3). Surface concentrations of black carbon (BC) (mean value ~0.1 μg m−3) show peak values in the winter. The simulated values are compared to surface measurements of AOD as well as PM2.5, PM10, BC, and organic carbon (OC) mass concentrations at two regional sites in Kyrgyzstan (Lidar Station Teplokluchenka (LST) and Bishkek). The predicted values of AOD and PM mass concentrations and their seasonal cycles are fairly well captured. The carbonaceous aerosols are underpredicted in winter, and analysis suggests that the winter heating emissions are underestimated in the current inventory. Dust, from sources within and outside CA, is a significant component of the PM mass and drives the seasonal cycles of PM and AOD. On an annual basis, the power and industrial sectors are found to be the most important contributors to the anthropogenic portion of PM2.5. Residential combustion and transportation are shown to be the most important sectors for BC. Biomass burning within and outside the region also contributes to elevated PM and BC concentrations. The analysis of the transport pathways and the variations in particulate matter mass and composition in CA demonstrates that this region is strategically located to characterize regional and intercontinental transport of pollutants. Aerosols at these sites are shown to reflect dust, biomass burning, and anthropogenic sources from Europe; South, East, and Central Asia; and Russia depending on the time period. Simulations for a reference 2030 emission scenario based on pollution abatement measures already committed to in current legislation show that PM2.5 and BC concentrations in the region increase, with BC growing more than PM2.5 on a relative basis. This indicates that both the health impacts and the climate warming associated with these particles may increase over the next decades unless additional control measures are taken. The importance of observations in CA to help characterize the changes that are rapidly taking place in the region are discussed.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1201744
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1222962
Journal Information:
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online), Vol. 15, Issue 4; ISSN 1680-7324
Publisher:
European Geosciences UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Peak growing season gross uptake of carbon in North America is largest in the Midwest USA journal May 2017
Modulation of snow reflectance and snowmelt from Central Asian glaciers by anthropogenic black carbon journal January 2017
Multi-Model Evaluation of Meteorological Drivers, Air Pollutants and Quantification of Emission Sources over the Upper Brahmaputra Basin journal November 2019
Diurnal cycle of coastal anthropogenic pollutant transport over southern West Africa during the DACCIWA campaign journal January 2019
Modulation of snow reflectance and snowmelt from Central Asian glaciers by anthropogenic black carbon text January 2017
Diurnal cycle of coastal anthropogenic pollutant transport over southern West Africa during the DACCIWA campaign text January 2019
Diurnal cycle of coastal anthropogenic pollutant transport over southern West Africa during the DACCIWA campaign posted_content August 2018

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