Aircraft Measurements of Atmospheric Aerosol over North China in Autumn

Abstract

Using an aircraft equipped with Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrum Probe (PCASP-100X) and streamwise thermal gradient cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) counter, six flight measurements of atmospheric aerosol and CCN were conducted over North China in autumn. Five flight observations over Shijiazhuang urban area show that there is great difference of aerosol microphysical character between clear day and haze day. Vertical distributions show that aerosols mainly concentrated on the levels from near surface to the low level of troposphere and the concentration generally decreased with height increasing. The max aerosol concentration was 8110 cm-3on haze day and 1614 cm-3on clear day. There was more than 4 times difference in concentration of aerosol in boundary layer between haze day and clear day. CCN has the similar vertical distributions as aerosol. Most CCN concentrated on the boundary layer suggesting that the main source of CCN is from surface. Observation over Bohai Bay shows that the marine aerosol and CCN were greatly influenced by anthropogenic emissions.