Study on the Vertical Distribution and Transport of Aerosols in the Joint Observation of Satellite and Ground-Based LiDAR

• Published in: Atmosphere Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 240
• Main Authors: Yang, Hao, Zhu, Xiaomeng, Fang, Zhiyuan, Qiu, Duoyang, Hu, Yalin, Tian, Chunyan, Ming, Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Aerosol optical properties; aerosol pollution transport; Aerosols; Air pollution; Air temperature; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric particulates; Climate change; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Distribution; Emissions; Environmental aspects; Ground stations; Lidar; LiDAR observation; Methods; multi-source remote sensing; Nitrogen dioxide; Observations; Optical data processing; Optical properties; Optical radar; Outdoor air quality; Oxidation; pandemic lockdown policy; Pandemics; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Photochemicals; Photochemistry; Pollution; Pollution control; Pollution dispersion; Pollution transport; Public health; Remote sensing; Satellite data; Satellite imaging; Satellite observation; Satellites; Statistical analysis; Surface temperature; Surface-air temperature relationships; Suspended particulate matter; Temperature inversion; Temperature inversions; Vertical distribution; Wind speed; Winds; Winter; China; Beijing China
• ISSN: 2073-4433; 2073-4433
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos15020240

The mechanism of aerosol pollution transport remains highly elusive owing to the myriad of influential factors. In this study, ground station data, satellite data, ground-based LiDAR remote sensing data, sounding data, ERA5 reanalysis and a backward trajectory model were combined to investigate the formation process and optical properties of winter aerosol pollution in Beijing and surrounding areas. The analysis of ground station data shows that compared to 2019 and 2021, the pandemic lockdown policy resulted in a decrease in the total number of pollution days and a decrease in the average concentration of particulate matter in the Beijing area in 2020. The terrain characteristics of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) made it prone to northeast and southwest winds. The highest incidence of aerosol pollution in Beijing occurs in February and March during the spring and winter seasons. Analysis of a typical heavy aerosol pollution process in the Beijing area from 28 February to 5 March 2019 shows that dust and fine particulate matter contributed to the primary pollution; surface air temperature inversion and an average wind speed of less than 3 m/s were conducive to the continuous accumulation of pollutants, which was accompanied by the oxidation reaction of NO2 and O3, forming photochemical pollution. The heavy aerosol pollution was transmitted and diffused towards the southeast, gradually eliminating the pollution. Our results provide relevant research support for the prevention and control of aerosol pollution.