The contribution of different aerosol sources to the Aerosol Optical Depth in Hong Kong

Abstract

The contribution of major aerosol components emitted from local and remote regions to Hong Kong's Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in 2007 is quantitatively determined using the chemical transport model GOCART (Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport). Of the major aerosol components, sulphur has the largest influence (68%) on Hong Kong, followed by organic carbon (OC, 13%) and dust (11%), and the influences of black carbon (BC, 5%) and sea salt (3%) are the lowest. The highest AOD is seen in September 2007 and is composed mainly of sulphur aerosols (85%). The high AOD values in March and April 2007 are caused by sulphur and OC. OC has a relative contribution of 39% in March and 30% in April.The anthropogenic sulphur, BC, and OC emitted from every continent, as well as from China and South China, are considered respectively. In summer, South China's contribution of sulphur aerosols from anthropogenic SO2 emissions to the total sulphur AOD in Hong Kong is more than 20%. In other seasons, sulphur aerosols from anthropogenic SO2 emissions in Rest China (all of China except South China) accounts for more than 25%. Anthropogenic BC from South China accounts for more than 20% of total BC AOD in Hong Kong in summer. The contribution of anthropogenic BC from Rest China exceeds 40% in autumn and winter. Anthropogenic BC from Rest Asia (all of Asia except China) accounts for more than 30% in summer and autumn. The contribution of anthropogenic OC from Rest China is more than 35% in autumn and winter. The contribution of anthropogenic OC from Rest Asia exceeds 20% in summer.Gobi dust accounts for more than 40% of the total dust AOD in winter, and its impact appears mainly in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL), where it is responsible for 50% of the dust concentration. The contribution of Sahara dust to the dust AOD in spring exceeds 35%, and its contribution to the dust concentration in the free atmosphere (40%) is larger than that in the ABL (10%). More than 35% of the dust AOD in summer and autumn comes from Taklamakan dust, which exists mainly in the free atmosphere, where it accounts for 40% of the dust concentration.