Vertical structure of foggy haze over the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area in January 2013

Abstract

In January 2013, frequent episodes of intense air pollution occurred in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area (BTH), China. Besides the occurrence of region-wide dry haze pollution, foggy haze conditions also developed across the region on numerous days, lasting into the afternoon. Synergistic analysis, using multisatellite datasets, air sounding and surface meteorological observations, indicated that there was a vertical overlap of fog and aerosol layers during the foggy haze episodes in the region. Fog appeared at a low level of the atmosphere. The altitude of the upper boundary of the fog differed across the region, but it was always below 1 km. The aerosol layer that closely contacted with the top of the underlying fog was rather dense, having a high concentration comparable to that during severe pollution on the ground. Above the dense aerosol layer, aerosol with a concentration equivalent to that of moderate pollution stretched up to an altitude of 2 km. Beyond that, a tenuous aerosol layer extended 5 km into the atmosphere. This overlapping of fog and haze layers frequently occurred across the region in January 2013. The occurrence of a foggy haze over BTH could worsen the regional air quality, and its appearance across this region would have notable effects on the radiation balance.