Abstract
Abstract. Measurements at a background site near Beijing showed that pollution controls implemented during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (NCCPC) were effective in reducing PM2.5. Mass concentrations of PM2.5 and its major chemical components were 20.6 %–43.1 % lower during the NCCPC-control period compared with a non-control period, and differences were greater on days with stable meteorological conditions. A receptor model showed that PM2.5 from traffic-related emissions, biomass burning, industrial processes, and mineral dust was 38.5 %–77.8 % lower during the NCCPC-control versus non-control period, but differences in PM2.5 from coal burning were small, and secondary sources were higher during the NCCPC-control period. During one pollution episode in the non-control period, secondary sources dominated, and the WRF-Chem model showed that the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region contributed 73.6 % of PM2.5 mass. A second pollution episode was linked to biomass burning, and BTH contributed 46.9 % of PM2.5 mass. Calculations based on Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) algorithms showed that organic matter was the largest contributor to light extinction during the non-control period whereas NH4NO3 was the main contributor during the NCCPC. The Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible radiation model showed that the average direct radiative forcing (DRF) values at the Earth's surface were −14.0 and −19.3 W m−2 during the NCCPC-control and non-control periods, respectively, and the DRF for the individual PM2.5 components were 22.7 %–46.7 % lower during the NCCPC. The information and dataset from this study will be useful for developing air pollution control strategies in the BTH region and for understanding associated aerosol radiative effects.
Highlights
High loadings of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) cause air quality to deteriorate (Pui et al, 2014; Tao et al, 2017), reduce atmospheric visibility (Watson, 2002; Cao et al, 2012), and adversely affect human health (Feng et al, 2016; Xie et al, 2016)
We investigated the effects of pollution controls put in place during the 19th NCCPC on the chemical composiwww.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/1881/2019/
The major chemical species, that is, organic matter (OM), NO−3, NH+4, elemental carbon (EC), and fine soil were lower by 43.1 %, 20.7 %, 20.6 %, 25.0 %, and 40.8 % during the NCCPC-control period, respectively, compared with samples taken after the controls were removed
Summary
High loadings of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) cause air quality to deteriorate (Pui et al, 2014; Tao et al, 2017), reduce atmospheric visibility (Watson, 2002; Cao et al, 2012), and adversely affect human health (Feng et al, 2016; Xie et al, 2016). Since the Chinese government promulgated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5 in 2012 (NAAQS, GB3095–2012), a series of emission control strategies have been implemented in Beijing and surrounding areas to alleviate the serious air pollution problems. These measures include installing desulfurization systems in coal-fired power plants, banning high-emission motor vehicles, and promoting natural gas as an alternative to coal in rural areas.
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