Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts
High levels of sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) due to human activities pose a serious air pollution issue in China, especially in urban agglomerations. However, limited research has investigated the impact of anthropogenic emissions on higher SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/2/391 |
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| author | Fang Wang Abdallah Shaheen Robabeh Yousefi Quansheng Ge Renguang Wu Jos Lelieveld Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Zifeng Lu Yu Zhan Yuyu Zhou |
| author_facet | Fang Wang Abdallah Shaheen Robabeh Yousefi Quansheng Ge Renguang Wu Jos Lelieveld Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Zifeng Lu Yu Zhan Yuyu Zhou |
| author_sort | Fang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High levels of sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) due to human activities pose a serious air pollution issue in China, especially in urban agglomerations. However, limited research has investigated the impact of anthropogenic emissions on higher SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in urban regions compared to rural areas in China. Here, we analyzed the trends in SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations from 1980 to 2021 in China using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) dataset. SO<sub>2</sub> column concentrations from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during the years 2007–2021 were also examined for validation and comparison purposes. Eight representative areas, including four urban regions (Pearl River Delta [PRD], Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei [BTH], Yangtze River Delta [YRD], and Sichuan Basin [SCB]) and four rural regions (Northeast Region [NER], Mongolian Region [MR], West Region [WR], and Tibetan Plateau Region [TR]) were selected for the analysis. Overall, a significant but fluctuating increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations over China was observed during 1980–2021. During 1980–1997 and 2000–2010, there was an increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentration, while during 1997–2000 and 2010–2021, a decreasing trend was observed. The average increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentration was approximately 16 times higher in urban regions than in the rural background. We also found that SO<sub>2</sub> dynamics were highly associated with expansion of urban areas, population density, and gross domestic product. Nonetheless, since 2007, SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations have exhibited a downward trend, which is mainly attributed to the air pollution policies implemented by the Chinese government. Our findings highlight the need for further studies on the impact of SO<sub>2</sub> on regional climate change in China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:35:57Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:35:57Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2ed3ce3999f4cd48e1719f3aea0b22e2024-01-26T18:19:48ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-01-0116239110.3390/rs16020391Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy ImpactsFang Wang0Abdallah Shaheen1Robabeh Yousefi2Quansheng Ge3Renguang Wu4Jos Lelieveld5Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis6Zifeng Lu7Yu Zhan8Yuyu Zhou9Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310030, ChinaDepartment of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, GreeceEnergy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USACollege of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaDepartment of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaHigh levels of sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) due to human activities pose a serious air pollution issue in China, especially in urban agglomerations. However, limited research has investigated the impact of anthropogenic emissions on higher SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in urban regions compared to rural areas in China. Here, we analyzed the trends in SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations from 1980 to 2021 in China using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) dataset. SO<sub>2</sub> column concentrations from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during the years 2007–2021 were also examined for validation and comparison purposes. Eight representative areas, including four urban regions (Pearl River Delta [PRD], Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei [BTH], Yangtze River Delta [YRD], and Sichuan Basin [SCB]) and four rural regions (Northeast Region [NER], Mongolian Region [MR], West Region [WR], and Tibetan Plateau Region [TR]) were selected for the analysis. Overall, a significant but fluctuating increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations over China was observed during 1980–2021. During 1980–1997 and 2000–2010, there was an increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentration, while during 1997–2000 and 2010–2021, a decreasing trend was observed. The average increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentration was approximately 16 times higher in urban regions than in the rural background. We also found that SO<sub>2</sub> dynamics were highly associated with expansion of urban areas, population density, and gross domestic product. Nonetheless, since 2007, SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations have exhibited a downward trend, which is mainly attributed to the air pollution policies implemented by the Chinese government. Our findings highlight the need for further studies on the impact of SO<sub>2</sub> on regional climate change in China.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/2/391SO<sub>2</sub> trendsreanalysis-satellite datahuman activitiespollution control policiesurban-ruralChina |
| spellingShingle | Fang Wang Abdallah Shaheen Robabeh Yousefi Quansheng Ge Renguang Wu Jos Lelieveld Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis Zifeng Lu Yu Zhan Yuyu Zhou Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts Remote Sensing SO<sub>2</sub> trends reanalysis-satellite data human activities pollution control policies urban-rural China |
| title | Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts |
| title_full | Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts |
| title_short | Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts |
| title_sort | long term dynamics of atmospheric sulfur dioxide in urban and rural regions of china urbanization and policy impacts |
| topic | SO<sub>2</sub> trends reanalysis-satellite data human activities pollution control policies urban-rural China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/2/391 |
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