Characteristics and formation mechanism of a winter haze–fog episode in Tianjin, China

Abstract

Several heavy haze and fog episodes occurred in northern China in January of 2013. Data were collected and used to analyze the characteristics and mechanisms of formation of the haze–fog (HF) episode that occurred from January 10 to 12. The minimum hourly visibility was 112 m, as recorded on 12 January. The concentrations of particulate and gaseous pollutants increased continuously during this HF period. The concentration of PM2.5 increased faster than that of SO2 and NOx, and the rate of accumulation was greater at the beginning of the HF process than at other times. The average concentration of PM2.5, PM10, NOx, and SO2 on the HF days was 3.9, 3.6, 2.5, and 2.1 times higher than the values in the non-haze days. The scattering and absorption coefficients σsp and σap on the HF days were 4.0 and 4.3 times higher than the values in the non-HF days. The highest black carbon (BC) concentration was about 10 times higher than on the non-HF days. The concentrations of total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) all increased, and the speed of the increase in OC was quicker than that of the EC. An increase in secondary inorganic pollutants (SO42−, NO3−) in PM2.5 was also observed. The concentrations of SO42− and NO3− on the HF days were 4 and 2 times those of the non-HF days. The increase in relative humidity on the HF days favored the formation of sulfate and nitrate during HF episode. Unfavorable meteorological conditions were the external cause of this HF episode. The southwest wind transported the pollutants from areas to the south of the study regions at the beginning of the HF episode. After the HF took shape, a strong descending air mass located in the high layer severely limited pollutant diffusion in the vertical direction. The strong temperature inversion and the weak horizontal wind limited the horizontal and vertical dispersion of pollutants. The high layer transport of the pollutants during the early period and the late accumulation of pollutants and the secondary formation of aerosols were important mechanisms for causing the formation of this HF episode.