Abstract
ABSTRACTTwo regional chemical transport models were applied to simulate high concentrations of particulate matters (PM) observed in East Asia in January 2015; the first model is the Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System (NAQPMS) and the second is the Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model (CMAQ). The variation of PM2.5 in both models showed well agreement with measurements over both eastern China and western Japan. Based on the model results and the aerosol compositions observed in Fukuoka in western Japan, three types of PM long-range transport (LRT) were identified: N-, S-, and D-type. The N episode showed higher fine-mode nitrate (fNO3–) concentrations than fine-mode sulfate (fSO42–), indicating the importance of NO3– LRT. The S episode showed the highest fSO42– concentrations (28.9 µg m–3), which were 3.4-fold higher than fNO3–, due to high relative humidity. During the D episode, dust stagnated in Fukuoka for three days, due to the influence of low- and high-pressure systems; thus, dust LRT is also important in winter besides spring. Both models reasonable explained variations in aerosol components during both N and S episodes; however, both underestimated fSO42– especially during D episode, suggesting that they may miss certain emissions or chemical mechanisms. High coarse-mode NO3– (cNO3–) concentrations (maximum: 6.3 µg m–3), and high cNO3–/fNO3– ratios (maximum: 1.2) were observed during D episode. NAQPMS successfully captured this cNO3– peak after including heterogeneous reactions on dust. Our results emphasize the importance of such heterogeneous processes for understanding the LRT of dust and anthropogenic pollutants over East Asia.
Highlights
The long-range transport (LRT) of particulate matters (PM, e.g., mineral dust and anthropogenic aerosols) is an important environmental issue, especially in East Asia, where the emissions of both dust and anthropogenic pollutants are in large mount
Mean fractional bias (MFB) and mean fractional error (MFE) of Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) and Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System (NAQPMS) satisfied model performance criteria (MFB ≤ ± 60%, and MFE ≤ + 75%) proposed by Boylan and Russell (2006). These results indicated that observed concentrations and variations in concentration for PM2.5 in eastern China and in western Japan are well explained by both models, despite differences in model frameworks (Table 1)
Two regional chemical transport models (NAQPMS and CMAQ) were used to simulate several episodes of high PM2.5 concentration observed in January 2015 over eastern China and western Japan
Summary
The long-range transport (LRT) of particulate matters (PM, e.g., mineral dust and anthropogenic aerosols) is an important environmental issue, especially in East Asia, where the emissions of both dust and anthropogenic pollutants are in large mount. Severe anthropogenic aerosol pollution has become a critically important issue in China; specific instances of severe pollution usually occur in winter. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 17: 3065–3078, 2017 months, such as the pollution episode in January 2013 (Uno et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2014). The LRT of anthropogenic aerosols during the winter in East Asia is important, but not well understood. A recent modeling study determined that LRT drove the domination of SO42– aerosols over west Japan during two air pollution episodes, even in summer when southern winds usually blow over Japan (Itahashi et al, 2012)
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