Transport Paths and Identification for Potential Sources of Haze Pollution in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration from 2014 to 2017

Linglong Zhu,Xi Kan,Yonghong Zhang,Jiangeng Wang

doi:10.3390/atmos9120502

Linglong Zhu, Xi Kan + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9120502

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Abstract

Besides local emissions, long-range transportation of polluted air masses also has a huge impact on haze pollution. In this study, the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used to determine the transport paths and potential sources of haze pollution in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration. Haze days were determined by setting the threshold of meteorological elements. Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Hefei were selected as four representative cities to calculate the −72 h backward transport trajectory of haze air mass; thus, the main transport path was obtained after clustering. A potential source contribution function and concentration weighted field were used to identify potential pollution sources of the study. The results showed that the number of haze days in the northern Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration is much higher than that in the south. Haze days and Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration showed a downward trend. The transport paths could be summarized as long-range transports from the northwest and coastal direction during the dry season and short-distance transports from all directions. −72 h air flow trajectories come from the higher altitudes in dry season than these in wet season. The main sources of potential pollution are Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and northern Jiangsu.

Highlights

The Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) is located in the east of China, and encompasses a total of 26 cities, including Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei and Shanghai
Many scholars have discussed this problem of the ratio of contributions of local aerosol sources and long-range transport. He found that the haze episode in the Yangtze River Delta in the winter of 2015 was both affected by strong wind importation and local accumulation in steady weather [5]
Liang et al examined the transport pathways and source areas of PM10 in Beijing based on a model-assisted analysis, and the results revealed that the major potential source areas were Hebei, Shandong, Tianjin, northwest of Inner

Summary

Introduction

The Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) is located in the east of China, and encompasses a total of 26 cities, including Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei and Shanghai. With the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization in recent years, haze pollution has become an important factor affecting regional economic development and urban environment [3,4]. Regional atmospheric pollution is mainly affected by two factors: local anthropogenic emission of atmospheric aerosols and polluted air mass transport from other contaminated areas. Many scholars have discussed this problem of the ratio of contributions of local aerosol sources and long-range transport. He found that the haze episode in the Yangtze River Delta in the winter of 2015 was both affected by strong wind importation and local accumulation in steady weather [5].

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