Does afforestation deteriorate haze pollution in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), China?
<p>Although aggressive emission control strategies have been implemented recently in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area (BTH), China, pervasive and persistent haze still frequently engulfs the region during wintertime. Afforestation in BTH, primarily concentrated in the Taihang and Yan Mountai...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/10869/2018/acp-18-10869-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Although aggressive emission control strategies have been
implemented recently in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area (BTH), China,
pervasive and persistent haze still frequently engulfs the region during
wintertime. Afforestation in BTH, primarily concentrated in the Taihang and
Yan Mountains, has constituted one of the controversial factors
exacerbating the haze pollution due to its slowdown of the surface wind
speed. We report here an increasing trend of forest cover in BTH during
2001–2013 based on long-term satellite measurements and the impact of the
afforestation on the fine-particle (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) level. Simulations using the
Weather Research and Forecast model with chemistry reveal that
afforestation in BTH since 2001 has generally been deteriorating the haze pollution in
BTH to some degree, enhancing PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations by up to 6 % on
average. Complete afforestation or deforestation in the Taihang and Yan
Mountains would increase or decrease the PM<sub>2.5</sub> level within 15 % in
BTH. Our model results also suggest that implementing a large ventilation
corridor system would not be effective or beneficial to mitigate the haze
pollution in Beijing.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |