Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China
<p>Aerosol particles play important roles in air quality and global climate change. In this study, we analyze the measurements of particle size distribution from 12 March to 6 April 2016 in Beijing to characterize new particle formation (NPF) using the observational data of sulfuric acid, mete...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/4091/2023/acp-23-4091-2023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797851704994037760 |
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| author | K. Wang X. Ma R. Tian F. Yu |
| author_facet | K. Wang X. Ma R. Tian F. Yu |
| author_sort | K. Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Aerosol particles play important roles in air quality and
global climate change. In this study, we analyze the measurements of
particle size distribution from 12 March to 6 April 2016 in Beijing to
characterize new particle formation (NPF) using the observational data of
sulfuric acid, meteorological parameters, solar radiation, and the mass concentration of fine
particles (PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span>, particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 <span class="inline-formula">µm</span>). During this 26 d campaign, 11 new particle
formation events are identified with obvious bursts of sub-3 nm particle
number concentrations and subsequent growth of these nucleated particles. It
is found that sulfuric acid concentration in Beijing does not have a
significant difference between NPF event and non-event days. Low relative humidity
(RH) and high daily total solar radiation appear to be favorable for the
occurrence of NPF events, which is quite obvious in this campaign. The
simulations using four nucleation schemes, i.e., <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>
binary homogeneous nucleation (BHN), <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–<span class="inline-formula">NH<sub>3</sub></span>
ternary homogeneous nucleation (THN), <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–ion binary
ion-mediated nucleation (BIMN), and <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–<span class="inline-formula">NH<sub>3</sub></span>–ion
ternary ion-mediated nucleation (TIMN), based on a global chemistry
transport model (GEOS-Chem) coupled with an advanced particle microphysics
(APM) model, are conducted to study the particle number concentrations and
new particle formation process. Our comparisons between measurements and
simulations indicate that the BHN scheme and BIMN scheme significantly
underestimate the observed particle number concentrations, and the THN
scheme captures the total particle number concentration on most NPF
event days well but fails to capture the noticeable increase in particle number
concentrations on 18 March and 1 April. The TIMN scheme has obvious
improvement in terms of total and sub-3 nm particle number concentrations
and nucleation rates. This study provides a basis for further understanding
of the nucleation mechanism in Beijing.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:22:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-417e6d9998b4400bab5dcdd3d279fb90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:22:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-417e6d9998b4400bab5dcdd3d279fb902023-04-05T08:31:09ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242023-04-01234091410410.5194/acp-23-4091-2023Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, ChinaK. Wang0X. Ma1R. Tian2F. Yu3Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaKey Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaKey Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaAtmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12203, USA<p>Aerosol particles play important roles in air quality and global climate change. In this study, we analyze the measurements of particle size distribution from 12 March to 6 April 2016 in Beijing to characterize new particle formation (NPF) using the observational data of sulfuric acid, meteorological parameters, solar radiation, and the mass concentration of fine particles (PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span>, particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 <span class="inline-formula">µm</span>). During this 26 d campaign, 11 new particle formation events are identified with obvious bursts of sub-3 nm particle number concentrations and subsequent growth of these nucleated particles. It is found that sulfuric acid concentration in Beijing does not have a significant difference between NPF event and non-event days. Low relative humidity (RH) and high daily total solar radiation appear to be favorable for the occurrence of NPF events, which is quite obvious in this campaign. The simulations using four nucleation schemes, i.e., <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span> binary homogeneous nucleation (BHN), <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–<span class="inline-formula">NH<sub>3</sub></span> ternary homogeneous nucleation (THN), <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–ion binary ion-mediated nucleation (BIMN), and <span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span>–<span class="inline-formula">H<sub>2</sub>O</span>–<span class="inline-formula">NH<sub>3</sub></span>–ion ternary ion-mediated nucleation (TIMN), based on a global chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem) coupled with an advanced particle microphysics (APM) model, are conducted to study the particle number concentrations and new particle formation process. Our comparisons between measurements and simulations indicate that the BHN scheme and BIMN scheme significantly underestimate the observed particle number concentrations, and the THN scheme captures the total particle number concentration on most NPF event days well but fails to capture the noticeable increase in particle number concentrations on 18 March and 1 April. The TIMN scheme has obvious improvement in terms of total and sub-3 nm particle number concentrations and nucleation rates. This study provides a basis for further understanding of the nucleation mechanism in Beijing.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/4091/2023/acp-23-4091-2023.pdf |
| spellingShingle | K. Wang X. Ma R. Tian F. Yu Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China |
| title_full | Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China |
| title_short | Analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem–advanced particle microphysics in Beijing, China |
| title_sort | analysis of new particle formation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on geos chem advanced particle microphysics in beijing china |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/4091/2023/acp-23-4091-2023.pdf |
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