Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013
Western China has experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization since the implementation of the National Western Development Strategies (the "Go West" movement) in 1999. This transition has affected the spatial and temporal characteristics of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/6207/2016/acp-16-6207-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818560348640247808 |
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| author | Y. Cui J. Lin C. Song M. Liu Y. Yan Y. Xu B. Huang B. Huang |
| author_facet | Y. Cui J. Lin C. Song M. Liu Y. Yan Y. Xu B. Huang B. Huang |
| author_sort | Y. Cui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Western China has experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization since
the implementation of the National Western Development Strategies (the "Go
West" movement) in 1999. This transition has affected the spatial and
temporal characteristics of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) pollution. In this
study, we analyze the trends and variability of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub>
vertical column densities (VCDs) from 2005 to 2013 over Western China, based
on a wavelet analysis on monthly mean NO<sub>2</sub> data derived from the Ozone
Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measurements. We focus on the anthropogenic
NO<sub>2</sub> by subtracting region-specific "background" values dominated by
natural sources. After removing the background influences, we find
significant anthropogenic NO<sub>2</sub> growth over Western China between 2005
and 2013 (8.6 ± 0.9 % yr<sup>−1</sup> on average, relative to 2005), with
the largest increments (15 % yr<sup>−1</sup> or more) over parts of several city
clusters. The NO<sub>2</sub> pollution in most provincial-level regions rose
rapidly from 2005 to 2011 but stabilized or declined afterwards. The
NO<sub>2</sub> trends were driven mainly by changes in anthropogenic emissions, as
confirmed by a nested GEOS-Chem model simulation and a comparison with
Chinese official emission statistics. The rate of NO<sub>2</sub> growth during
2005–2013 reaches 11.3 ± 1.0 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over Northwestern China,
exceeding the rates over Southwestern China (5.9 ± 0.6 % yr<sup>−1</sup>)
and the three well-known polluted regions in the east (5.3 ± 0.8 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, 4.0 ± 0.6 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over the Yangtze River Delta, and
−3.3 ± 0.3 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over the Pearl River Delta). Subsequent socioeconomic analyses
suggest that the rapid NO<sub>2</sub> growth over Northwestern China is likely
related to the fast developing resource- and pollution-intensive industries
along with the "Go West" movement as well as relatively weak emission
controls. Further efforts should be made to alleviate NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> pollution to
achieve sustainable development in Western China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:37:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-238f76cd61ad40738349891039d18ac6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:37:21Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-238f76cd61ad40738349891039d18ac62022-12-21T23:24:34ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242016-05-01166207622110.5194/acp-16-6207-2016Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013Y. Cui0J. Lin1C. Song2M. Liu3Y. Yan4Y. Xu5B. Huang6B. Huang7Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, ChinaLaboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaDepartment of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USALaboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaLaboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaDepartment of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, ChinaInstitute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, ChinaWestern China has experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization since the implementation of the National Western Development Strategies (the "Go West" movement) in 1999. This transition has affected the spatial and temporal characteristics of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) pollution. In this study, we analyze the trends and variability of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> vertical column densities (VCDs) from 2005 to 2013 over Western China, based on a wavelet analysis on monthly mean NO<sub>2</sub> data derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measurements. We focus on the anthropogenic NO<sub>2</sub> by subtracting region-specific "background" values dominated by natural sources. After removing the background influences, we find significant anthropogenic NO<sub>2</sub> growth over Western China between 2005 and 2013 (8.6 ± 0.9 % yr<sup>−1</sup> on average, relative to 2005), with the largest increments (15 % yr<sup>−1</sup> or more) over parts of several city clusters. The NO<sub>2</sub> pollution in most provincial-level regions rose rapidly from 2005 to 2011 but stabilized or declined afterwards. The NO<sub>2</sub> trends were driven mainly by changes in anthropogenic emissions, as confirmed by a nested GEOS-Chem model simulation and a comparison with Chinese official emission statistics. The rate of NO<sub>2</sub> growth during 2005–2013 reaches 11.3 ± 1.0 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over Northwestern China, exceeding the rates over Southwestern China (5.9 ± 0.6 % yr<sup>−1</sup>) and the three well-known polluted regions in the east (5.3 ± 0.8 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, 4.0 ± 0.6 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over the Yangtze River Delta, and −3.3 ± 0.3 % yr<sup>−1</sup> over the Pearl River Delta). Subsequent socioeconomic analyses suggest that the rapid NO<sub>2</sub> growth over Northwestern China is likely related to the fast developing resource- and pollution-intensive industries along with the "Go West" movement as well as relatively weak emission controls. Further efforts should be made to alleviate NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> pollution to achieve sustainable development in Western China.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/6207/2016/acp-16-6207-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Y. Cui J. Lin C. Song M. Liu Y. Yan Y. Xu B. Huang B. Huang Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 |
| title_full | Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 |
| title_fullStr | Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 |
| title_short | Rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over Western China, 2005–2013 |
| title_sort | rapid growth in nitrogen dioxide pollution over western china 2005 2013 |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/6207/2016/acp-16-6207-2016.pdf |
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