Impact of Gusty Northwesterly Winds on Biological Particles in Winter in Beijing

Abstract

Biological aerosol particles play a crucial role in cloud formation and succession of ecosystems and have a large impact on human health. However, the variations in the concentration, composition, and viability of biological particles remain unclear. This study, conducted in January 2013 and January 2015 in Beijing, explores the influence of meteorological conditions on the variations in the concentration and composition of biological particles. Concentrations of biological particles were measured by an online optical detector, waveband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS-4A). The composition of bacterial communities within biological particles was measured by 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that the number concentration of biological particles ranged from 2 L-1 to 150 L-1 during winter. The wind could largely influence the concentration and composition of biological particles. During gusty northwesterly winds, when wind speed was above 4 m·s-1 and wind direction was from the northwest (~30°), the concentration increased by one order of magnitude, and the composition of bacterial communities sharply changed. After the passage of gusty winds, the composition gradually changed back to its prior state.