Aerosol optical properties and their impacts on the co–occurrence of surface ozone and particulate matter in Kunming City, on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau of China

Abstract

It's urgent to clarify the quantitative relationship between declining fine−particle (PM2.5) concentrations and increasing ozone (O3) levels as ozone pollution is increasingly severe in China. Here, we analyze the ground–based data of aerosol optical properties, particulates, and gaseous pollutants collected in a simultaneous observation in Kunming, locate in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, from June 2014 to May 2017. The data exhibit slightly rising levels of PM2.5, O3, and carbon monoxid (CO), declining AOD (aerosol optical depth) but increasing AE (Angstrom exponent). Both the seasonal PM2.5 and CO concentrations were low in the wet season and high in the dry season. The seasonal ozone levels and AE almost increased monotonically while the seasonal AOD decreased wavelike. Overall, the maximum daily 8h average (MDA8) O3 concentrations positively related to PM2.5 concentrations with temperature>22 °C, RH<45%, and AOD<1.0 in the wet season. Generally, MDA8 O3 concentrations didn't fluctuate with PM2.5 concentrations in the dry season. High SSA (single scattering albedo) corresponded to high MDA8 O3 concentrations and low SSA corresponded to low MDA8 O3 concentrations in the wet season. However, lower SSA values in the dry season were observable. Most high MDA8 O3 concentrations (>100 μg m−3) in the wet season occurred with AE at 1.0–1.5. High MDA8 O3 concentrations (>100 μg m−3) in dry season appeared with an AE range of ~0.75–1.75. Low MDA8 O3 concentrations occurred with AOD>2.0 and RH>75%, despite T>20 °C. The biomass−burning/urban aerosols were dominant (71.11% in the wet season and 74.40% in the dry season). The PSCF (Potential Source Contribution Function) results revealed the air pollutants from inside and outside China will have great impacts on the pollutant levels in Kunming besides the local emissions. Particularly, the severe pollution in India may aggravate Kunming's air pollution.