The impact of crop residue burning on air quality over Yangtze River delta, China: Observation and simulation

Abstract

A serious air pollution episode during 28–29 Oct. 2008 in Nanjing and surrounding regions was analyzed by using the data of air pollutant species, API (Air Pollution Index), satellite fire hotspots and the methods of backward trajectory simulations and air quality model WRF-CMAQ simulation. The results indicate that the air pollution event was mainly contributed by the releasing of crop residue burning in central and north of Jiangsu province. The synoptic situations of uniform pressure field, the inversion layer, low horizontal and vertical wind were not favorable for the advection of air pollutants. The emission inventory releasing from crop residual opening burning over YRD was constructed, which was coupled into WRF-CMAQ air quality modeling system. After considering the emission from crop residual opening burning, the simulated results of air pollutants were much closed to observations.