Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China

The Central Plains Economic Region (CPER) is one of the most polluted regions in China. Air pollution has caused visibility degradation due to the light extinction of fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). However, the source of light extinction and visibility degradation is still unclear. I...

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Main Authors: Huiyun Du, Jie Li, Xueshun Chen, Wenyi Yang, Zhe Wang, Zifa Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/12/2075
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author Huiyun Du
Jie Li
Xueshun Chen
Wenyi Yang
Zhe Wang
Zifa Wang
author_facet Huiyun Du
Jie Li
Xueshun Chen
Wenyi Yang
Zhe Wang
Zifa Wang
author_sort Huiyun Du
collection DOAJ
description The Central Plains Economic Region (CPER) is one of the most polluted regions in China. Air pollution has caused visibility degradation due to the light extinction of fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). However, the source of light extinction and visibility degradation is still unclear. In this study, the nested air quality prediction model system coupled with an online tracer-tagging module has been used to quantify the contribution of emission sectors and regions to visibility degradation. The light extinction coefficients were well reproduced over CPER. The results showed that resident-related emissions, traffic and industry were the main sectors of visibility degradation over CPER, contributing 55~62%, 10~28%, and 9~19%, respectively. The contribution of local emissions and regional transport was also investigated, and the results showed that regional transport dominated the light extinction (56~68%), among which transport within Henan province contributes significantly (12~45%). Sensitivity tests showed that the reduction in the resident-related sector was more effective than that of the industry sector. Emission control of 40% in resident-related, industry, and traffic sectors over the whole region can achieve the goal of good visibility. This study will provide scientific suggestions for the control strategies development to mitigate visibility degradation over CPER.
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spelling doaj.art-53a0c8684b12438ab486319616c5cf0c2023-11-24T13:12:27ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-12-011312207510.3390/atmos13122075Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in ChinaHuiyun Du0Jie Li1Xueshun Chen2Wenyi Yang3Zhe Wang4Zifa Wang5State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaThe Central Plains Economic Region (CPER) is one of the most polluted regions in China. Air pollution has caused visibility degradation due to the light extinction of fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). However, the source of light extinction and visibility degradation is still unclear. In this study, the nested air quality prediction model system coupled with an online tracer-tagging module has been used to quantify the contribution of emission sectors and regions to visibility degradation. The light extinction coefficients were well reproduced over CPER. The results showed that resident-related emissions, traffic and industry were the main sectors of visibility degradation over CPER, contributing 55~62%, 10~28%, and 9~19%, respectively. The contribution of local emissions and regional transport was also investigated, and the results showed that regional transport dominated the light extinction (56~68%), among which transport within Henan province contributes significantly (12~45%). Sensitivity tests showed that the reduction in the resident-related sector was more effective than that of the industry sector. Emission control of 40% in resident-related, industry, and traffic sectors over the whole region can achieve the goal of good visibility. This study will provide scientific suggestions for the control strategies development to mitigate visibility degradation over CPER.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/12/2075source apportionmentvisibility degradationNAQPMScontrol strategythe Central Plains Economic Region
spellingShingle Huiyun Du
Jie Li
Xueshun Chen
Wenyi Yang
Zhe Wang
Zifa Wang
Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
Atmosphere
source apportionment
visibility degradation
NAQPMS
control strategy
the Central Plains Economic Region
title Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
title_full Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
title_fullStr Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
title_short Quantifying the Source Contributions to Poor Atmospheric Visibility in Winter over the Central Plains Economic Region in China
title_sort quantifying the source contributions to poor atmospheric visibility in winter over the central plains economic region in china
topic source apportionment
visibility degradation
NAQPMS
control strategy
the Central Plains Economic Region
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/12/2075
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