Abstract

The regional air quality modeling system Regional Atmospheric Modeling System–Community Multiscale Air Quality was applied to estimate the spatial distribution and seasonal variation in nitrogen wet deposition over East Asia in 2010. The simulated results were evaluated by comparing modeled precipitation rates and ion concentrations, such as ammonium (), nitrate (), and sulfate, in rainwater, against observations obtained from Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia and meteorological stations in China. Comparison of simulated and observed precipitation showed that the modeling system can reproduce seasonal precipitation patterns reasonably well. For major ion species, the simulated results in most cases were in good agreement with those observed. Analysis of the modeled wet deposition distributions indicated that China experiences noticeable variation in wet deposition patterns throughout the year. Nitrogen wet deposition () during summer and spring accounted for 71% of the annual total (3.9 Tg N yr−1), including 42.7% in summer. Precipitation plays a larger role in the seasonal variation of wet deposition; whereas, aerosol concentrations affect its distribution patterns. In China, the amount of annual nitrogen wet deposition ranged from 1 to 18 kg N ha−1. Nitrogen in wet deposition was mainly in the form of , accounting for 65.76% of the total amount, and the molar ratio of was mostly more than 1, indicating a relatively larger effect from agricultural activities.

Highlights

  • Nitrogen wet deposition is an issue of increasing importance in China

  • The simulated results were evaluated by comparing modeled precipitation rates and ion concentrations, such as ammonium (NH+4), nitrate (NO−3), and sulfate, in rainwater, against observations obtained from Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia and meteorological stations in China

  • Nitrogen wet deposition (NH+4 + NO−3) during summer and spring accounted for 71% of the annual total (3.9 Tg N yr−1), including 42.7% in summer

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Summary

Introduction

Nitrogen wet deposition is an issue of increasing importance in China. nitrogen deposition can supply nutrition for plants, excessive nitrogen may induce a series of problems, including soil acidification (Bowman et al 2008), eutrophication, loss of biodiversity, air pollution, and climate change. For quantifying spatiotemporal distributions of atmospheric nitrogen deposition, modeling tools are very useful (Simpson et al 2014; Zhang, et al 2012). No such simulations have far been conducted with respect to the seasonal variation in nitrogen wet deposition over. In the present study, the seasonal variation in nitrogen wet deposition distributions over East Asia were estimated using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling.

Model description
Comparison of observed and simulated results
Temporal and spatial distribution of nitrogen wet deposition over East Asia
Conclusion
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