Seasonal variation of atmospheric vertical extinction and its interaction with meteorological factors in the Yangtze River Delta region

Chemosphere. 2020 May:247:125768. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125768. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Abstract

Based on ground-based lidar and microwave radiometer observations in Hangzhou from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015, the monthly characteristics of diurnal extinction as well as atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) were studied. The interactions between temperature (T), humidity fields including relative humidity (RH) and specific humidity (SH) and atmospheric stratification (AS) were analyzed to discuss the meteorological factors in the Yangtze River Delta region during the study period. The top of ABLMPL varied from 0.8 km to 1.0 km throughout in January with higher extinction intensity close to the surface combined to the largest PM2.5 about 100-120 μg/m3. Then the ABLMPL could develop up to 1.5 km in the spring due to the weaker extinction during the daytime. The RH in the whole column in January and December was lower than the mean value (ranging from 5% to 20%) distributed from the ground to 3 km. From May to September, the RH anomaly profiles became positive contributed to larger extinction by strengthened the particle scattering ability. In January and December, the AS was stable from the surface to 3 km coincided with the extinction distribution; while in July and August, the gradient of Δθse decreased which favored the diffusion of particle in the air. Moreover, April and October presented turning points in the variation of θse. The humidity field reveals a stable condition in January and December which favored particles suppressed from the near surface to 3 km; the temperature field has tended towards a neutral state in most months except for February. The first change-point of the meteorological fields was found in April possibly attributable to the abnormal abrupt in the subtropical high. This study could have important reference for understanding regional air quality and governing air control.

Keywords: Extinction coefficient; Meteorological factors; Vertical distribution; Yangtze river delta region.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / analysis
  • China
  • Climate
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humidity
  • Meteorological Concepts*
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Rivers / chemistry
  • Seasons*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter