Abstract
We present the mapping at fine spatial scale of aerosol optical properties using a mobile laboratory equipped with LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), sun photometer and in situ instruments for performing on-road measurements. The mobile campaign was conducted from 9 May to 19 May 2017 and had the main objective of mapping the distribution of pollutants in the Beijing and North China Plain (NCP) region. The highest AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) at 440 nm of 1.34 and 1.9 were recorded during two heavy pollution episodes on 18 May and 19 May 2017, respectively. The lowest Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) heights (0.5–1.5 km) were recorded during the heavy pollution events, correlating with the highest AOD and southern winds. The transport of desert dust from the Gobi Desert was captured during the mobile measurements, impacting Beijing during 9–13 May 2017. Exploring the NCP outside Beijing provided datasets for regions with scarce ground measurements and allowed the mapping of high aerosol concentrations when passing polluted cities in the NCP (Baoding, Tianjin and Tangshan) and along the Binhai New Area. For the first time, we provide mass concentration profiles from the synergy of LIDAR, sun photometer and in situ measurements. The case study along the Binhai New Area revealed mean extinction coefficients of 0.14 ± 0.10 km−1 at 532 nm and a mass concentration of 80 ± 62 μg/m3 in the PBL (<2 km). The highest extinction (0.56 km−1) and mass concentrations (404 μg/m3) were found in the industrial Binhai New Area. The PM10 and PM2.5 fractions of the total mass concentration profiles were separated using the columnar size distribution, derived from the sun photometer measurements. This study offers unique mobile datasets of the aerosol optical properties in the NCP for future applications, such as satellite validation and air quality studies.
Highlights
IntroductionThe North China Plain (NCP) in north-eastern China is one of the most populated and polluted regions of China, where long-standing heavy aerosol pollution episodes frequently occur [1,2]
Both local and regional sources contribute to the air pollution in the North China Plain (NCP) region, depending on the synoptic conditions, with desert dust being advected over the NCP when air flows are dominated by westerly winds [10] while fine particle pollution events occur with southern wind flow [1]
We report the mobile measurements of aerosol optical properties, such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), particle volume size distribution (VSD) and vertical profiles of aerosol extinction and mass concentration derived from a sun photometer, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and in situ observations in the Beijing and NCP area during the 9–19 May 2017 period, performed during movement with an instrumented van
Summary
The North China Plain (NCP) in north-eastern China is one of the most populated and polluted regions of China, where long-standing heavy aerosol pollution episodes frequently occur [1,2]. Regional transport plays an important role in urban air pollution. Both local and regional sources contribute to the air pollution in the NCP region, depending on the synoptic conditions, with desert dust being advected over the NCP when air flows are dominated by westerly winds [10] while fine particle pollution events occur with southern wind flow [1]. The pollution levels are still high in the NCP, especially during haze episodes, and exceed the air quality limits locally. The air quality guideline (AQG) levels for 24 h for PM2.5 and PM10 , as defined by the World Health
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