Interaction between aerosol and thermodynamic stability within the planetary boundary layer during wintertime over the North China Plain: aircraft observation and WRF-Chem simulation

Abstract

Abstract. Aerosol–planetary boundary layer (PBL) interaction has been proposed as a key mechanism for stabilizing the atmosphere and exacerbating surface air pollution. Although the understanding of this process has progressed enormously, its magnitude and impact remain uncertain and vary widely concerning aerosol types, vertical distributions, synoptic conditions, etc. In this study, our primary interest is to distinguish the aerosol–PBL interaction of absorbing and scattering aerosols under contrasting synoptic patterns and aerosol vertical distributions. Detailed in situ aircraft (King Air 350) measurements and online coupled model Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) simulations are explored over the North China Plain (NCP). Furthermore, a long-term PBL stability trend from 1980 to 2020 over the NCP is also investigated. The aircraft measurements and surface observations show that the surface air pollution over the city of Baoding on 3 January is heavier than that on 4 January 2020. In addition, the aerosols are restricted to the low layer on 3 January, whereas the aerosols mix more homogeneously in an upwards direction on 4 January. Thus, we focus on the 2 d with distinct synoptic circumstances, PBL stability, and aerosol vertical distributions over the NCP. According to the WRF-Chem modeling, the synoptic pattern over Baoding differs between the 2 d. The prevailing wind direction is opposite with a southwesterly wind on 3 January and a northeasterly wind on 4 January. The results indicate that the synoptic condition may affect the PBL thermal structure, thus affecting the aerosol vertical distribution. Additionally, the sensitive numerical experiments reveal that the light-absorbing and light-scattering aerosols have different effects on altering the PBL thermal structure. The inhibition effect of scattering aerosols on the PBL appears to be independent of the aerosol height distribution and solely depends on its concentration. However, the aerosol–PBL feedback of absorbing aerosols is highly dependent on its vertical distribution. Besides the 2 d case investigation, the analysis of the modeling results for nearly 1 month from 3 to 30 January 2020 in Baoding yields a more robust and representative conclusion. Our analysis highlights that we should principally concentrate on controlling the emissions of scattering aerosols under the stable stratification, while cooperating to control the emissions of scattering and absorbing aerosols in an unstable stratification. Moreover, the long-term interannual variation in the PBL stability shows a strong correlation with the East Asian winter monsoon, which seems to be valuable in determining which pollutants to target in different monsoon years and attaining more precise air pollution control. Based on the numerical simulations and observational constraints, a concept scheme description has been concluded to deepen our recognition of the interactions between thermodynamic stability and aerosols within the PBL over the NCP region.