Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing

Abstract In addition to weather conditions and pollutant emissions, the degree to which topography influences the occurrence and development of haze pollution in downtown Beijing and the mechanisms that may be involved remain open questions. A series of atmospheric chemistry simulations are executed...

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Main Authors: Ziyin Zhang, Xiangde Xu, Lin Qiao, Daoyi Gong, Seong-Joong Kim, Yinjun Wang, Rui Mao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2018-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23880-8
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author Ziyin Zhang
Xiangde Xu
Lin Qiao
Daoyi Gong
Seong-Joong Kim
Yinjun Wang
Rui Mao
author_facet Ziyin Zhang
Xiangde Xu
Lin Qiao
Daoyi Gong
Seong-Joong Kim
Yinjun Wang
Rui Mao
author_sort Ziyin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In addition to weather conditions and pollutant emissions, the degree to which topography influences the occurrence and development of haze pollution in downtown Beijing and the mechanisms that may be involved remain open questions. A series of atmospheric chemistry simulations are executed by using the online-coupled Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model for November-December 2015 with different hypothetical topographic height scenarios. The simulation results show that topography exerts an important influence on haze pollution in downtown Beijing, particularly the typical development of haze pollution. A possible mechanism that underlies the response of haze pollution to topography is that the mountains that surround Beijing tend to produce anomalous southerly winds, high relative humidity, low boundary layer heights, and sinking motion over most of Beijing. These conditions favor the formation and development of haze pollution in downtown Beijing. Furthermore, the reduction percentage in PM2.5 concentrations due to reduced terrain height in the southerly wind (S) mode is almost three times larger than that in the northerly wind (N) mode. In the context of the regional topography, the simple S and N modes represent useful indicators for haze prediction in Beijing to some extent, especially over medium to long time scales.
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spelling doaj.art-aa0ec57adb7348118f3de22c048ef8062022-12-21T23:37:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222018-04-018111110.1038/s41598-018-23880-8Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in BeijingZiyin Zhang0Xiangde Xu1Lin Qiao2Daoyi Gong3Seong-Joong Kim4Yinjun Wang5Rui Mao6Institute of Urban Meteorology, Chinese Meteorological AdministrationState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological SciencesEnvironmental Meteorology Forecast Center of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chinese Meteorological AdministrationState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal UniversityKorea Polar Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological SciencesState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract In addition to weather conditions and pollutant emissions, the degree to which topography influences the occurrence and development of haze pollution in downtown Beijing and the mechanisms that may be involved remain open questions. A series of atmospheric chemistry simulations are executed by using the online-coupled Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model for November-December 2015 with different hypothetical topographic height scenarios. The simulation results show that topography exerts an important influence on haze pollution in downtown Beijing, particularly the typical development of haze pollution. A possible mechanism that underlies the response of haze pollution to topography is that the mountains that surround Beijing tend to produce anomalous southerly winds, high relative humidity, low boundary layer heights, and sinking motion over most of Beijing. These conditions favor the formation and development of haze pollution in downtown Beijing. Furthermore, the reduction percentage in PM2.5 concentrations due to reduced terrain height in the southerly wind (S) mode is almost three times larger than that in the northerly wind (N) mode. In the context of the regional topography, the simple S and N modes represent useful indicators for haze prediction in Beijing to some extent, especially over medium to long time scales.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23880-8
spellingShingle Ziyin Zhang
Xiangde Xu
Lin Qiao
Daoyi Gong
Seong-Joong Kim
Yinjun Wang
Rui Mao
Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
Scientific Reports
title Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
title_full Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
title_fullStr Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
title_full_unstemmed Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
title_short Numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in Beijing
title_sort numerical simulations of the effects of regional topography on haze pollution in beijing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23880-8
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