[Vertical Distribution Characteristics of Boundary Layer Volatile Organic Compounds in Autumn in the Mixed Industrial and Rural Areas over the Northern Suburb of Nanjing]

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2023 Jan 8;44(1):66-74. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202202133.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Based on the sounding data of VOCs in the lower troposphere (0-1000 m) in the northern suburb of Nanjing in the autumn of 2020, the vertical profile distribution, diurnal variation, and photochemical reactivity of VOCs in this area were analyzed. The results showed that the volume fraction of VOCs decreased with the increase in height (72.1×10-9±28.1×10-9-56.4×10-9±24.8×10-9). Alkanes at all heights accounted for the largest proportion (68%-75%), followed by aromatics (10%-12%), halohydrocarbons (10%-11%), alkenes (3%-7%), and acetylene (2%). The diurnal variation of the boundary layer had a great influence on the VOCs profile. The lower boundary layer in the morning and evening caused the volume fraction of VOCs to accumulate near the ground and lower in the upper layer. The vertical distribution of VOCs was more uniform in the afternoon. In the morning, the volume fraction proportion of alkenes (alkanes) with strong (weak) photochemical reactivity decreased (increased) with the increase in height, indicating that the photochemical aging of VOCs in the upper layer was significant. In the afternoon, the vertical distribution of VOCs volume fraction and OFP in the lower troposphere were more uniform. Affected by the surrounding air masses with different sources, the volume fraction and component proportion of VOCs at each height were significantly different. The alkanes in rural air masses were vertically evenly distributed, and the proportion increased gradually with the height. The vertical negative gradient of VOCs volume fraction in the urban air mass was the largest, the volume fraction of VOCs near the ground was high, and it was rich in aromatics. The proportion of aromatics increased with the increase in VOCs volume fraction between 200-400 m height of industrial air mass. The near-surface VOCs volume fraction of the highway traffic air mass was high, and alkanes accounted for the largest proportion.

Keywords: Nanjing; photochemical reactivity; source identification; vertical distribution; volatile organic compounds(VOCs).

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Alkanes / analysis
  • Alkenes / analysis
  • China
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Ozone* / analysis
  • Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Alkenes
  • Alkanes
  • Ozone