Formation Mechanism of Heavy PM<sub>2.5</sub> Pollution in Harbin in January 2020

Geng Xinze; Liu Chang; Liu Xuyan; Wang Yulong; Zhang Zhiqing; Liang Linlin

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20240609

Vol.35, NO.6, 2024

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Geng Xinze, Liu Chang, Liu Xuyan, et al. Formation mechanism of heavy PM2.5 pollution in Harbin in January 2020. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 737-746. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240609.

Citation:

Geng Xinze, Liu Chang, Liu Xuyan, et al. Formation mechanism of heavy PM_2.5 pollution in Harbin in January 2020. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 737-746. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240609.

Geng Xinze, Liu Chang, Liu Xuyan, et al. Formation mechanism of heavy PM2.5 pollution in Harbin in January 2020. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 737-746. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240609.

Citation:

Geng Xinze, Liu Chang, Liu Xuyan, et al. Formation mechanism of heavy PM_2.5 pollution in Harbin in January 2020. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 737-746. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240609.

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Formation Mechanism of Heavy PM_2.5 Pollution in Harbin in January 2020

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240609

Geng Xinze^{1, 2, 3},
Liu Chang^{1, 2},
Liu Xuyan⁴,
Wang Yulong³,
Zhang Zhiqing³,
Liang Linlin^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081
2.
State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081
3.
State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090
4.
National Satellite Meteorological Center, Beijing 100081

Received Date: 2024-05-10
Rev Recd Date: 2024-08-14
Publish Date: 2024-11-30

Abstract

Abstract

In the context of China's commitment to improve air quality enhancement, cities within severe cold climate zones, exemplified by Harbin continue to confront the exigent issue of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution, notably during winter. Despite nationwide initiatives aimed at mitigating air pollution, Harbin's unique geographical and climatic conditions, combined with its predominant economic activities, have led to consistently high levels of PM_2.5 during winter. An episode of severe PM_2.5 pollution is observed in January 2020, with the monthly average mass concentration of PM_2.5 peaking at 155.0 μg·m^-3, significantly surpassing national standards. To explore the mechanism of this severe PM_2.5 pollution episode, an integrated analysis of chemical compositions and influencing factors is conducted during this period. In the meantime, methods of backward trajectory clustering and the weighted potential source contribution function (WPSCF) are employed to investigate source areas and transport pathways of air pollutants. Results indicate that the severe PM_2.5 pollution in Harbin mainly originates from primary emissions, with biomass burning contributing significantly. During the observation period, the concentration of levoglucosan in PM_2.5, a common tracer of biomass burning, reaches as high as 1.1 μg·m^-3, which is 3.7 to 5.5 times higher than that in other regions experiencing severe biomass burning pollution during winter. Furthermore, research findings indicate that meteorological conditions play a significant role in exacerbating PM_2.5 pollution in Harbin. High relative humidity (averaging at 80.0%) combined with extremely low temperatures (averaging at -18.0 ℃) provided favorable conditions for secondary aerosol formation. Under such low-temperature and high-humidity conditions, the average sulfur oxidation rate reaches as high as 25.6%, and the nitrogen oxidation rate reaches 10.8%. It significantly increases the contribution of secondary aerosols to PM_2.5 in Harbin. Additionally, this study also reveals the impact of regional transportation on the air quality of Harbin. It indicates that the air quality of Harbin is influenced not only by local emissions but also by the transportation of pollutants from neighboring cities such as Suihua, Daqing, Changchun, and Songyuan. The inter-city transfer of pollution highlights the close connection of air pollution issues within the region. Through the comprehensive analysis of causes of a severe PM_2.5 pollution event in Harbin during winter from multiple perspectives, a scientific basis is provided for understanding causes for air pollution in similar cold climate.
- cold climate;
- biomass burning;
- humidity;
- PM_2.5;
- regional transmission

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References(43)

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1 Daily variations of reconstructed PM_2.5 concentration and meteorological factors of Harbin in Jan 2020

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Fig. 2 Proportions of secondary inorganic ions in reconstructed PM_2.5 concentrations of Harbin in Jan 2020

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图 3 2020年1月哈尔滨SOR和NOR的逐日变化

(1月21日数据缺失)

Fig. 3 Daily variation of SOR and NOR of Harbin in Jan 2020

(data missing on 21 Jan)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 4 Daily variations of OC, EC concentrations with their ratio in PM_2.5 of Harbin in Jan 2020

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Fig. 5 Relationship of LG concentration to concentrations of reconstructed PM_2.5(a) and OC(b) of Harbin in Jan 2020

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图 6 2020年1月哈尔滨气团后向轨迹聚类图

(742条起始高度为100 m的24 h后向气团轨迹)

Fig. 6 Backward airmass trajectory clusters of Harbin in Jan 2020

(clustered from 742 paths of 24 h backward trajectories with height of 100 m)

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Fig. 7 Potential source areas of PM_2.5 with its main chemical components of Harbin in Jan 2020

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Table 1 Five types of airmass trajectories affecting Harbin in Jan 2020

聚类	轨迹数量	轨迹数量占比/%	平均质量浓度/(μg·m^-3)
1	121	17.0	211.3
2	175	24.6	190.8
3	292	41.1	157.8
4	103	14.5	99.0
5	20	2.8	16.5

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