Spatial-temporal distribution and emission of urban scale air pollutants in Hefei based on Mobile-DOAS

Abstract

As a significant city in the Yangtze River Delta regions, Hefei has experienced rapid changes in the sources of air pollution due to its high-speed economic development and urban expansion. However, there has been limited research in recent years on the spatial-temporal distribution and emission of its atmospheric pollutants. To address this, this study conducted mobile observations of urban roads using the Mobile-DOAS instrument from June 2021 to May 2022. The monitoring results exhibit a favourable consistent with TROPOMI satellite data and ground monitoring station data. Temporally, there were pronounced seasonal variations in air pollutants. Spatially, high concentration of HCHO and NO2 were closely associated with traffic congestion on roadways, while heightened SO2 levels were attributed to winter heating and industrial emissions. The study also revealed that with the implementation of road policies, the average vehicle speed increased by 95.4%, while the NO concentration decreased by 54.4%. In the estimation of urban NOx emission flux, it was observed that in temporal terms, compared with inventory data, the emissions calculated via mobile measurements exhibited more distinct seasonal patterns, with the highest emission rate of 349 g/sec in winter and the lowest of 142 g/sec in summer. In spatial terms, the significant difference in emissions between the inner and outer ring roads also suggests the presence of the city's primary NOx emission sources in the area between these two rings. This study offers data support for formulating the next phase of air pollution control measures in urban areas.