Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China
<p>The significance of aerosol–photolysis interaction (API) in atmospheric photochemistry has been emphasized by studies utilizing box models and chemical transport models. However, few studies have considered the actual aerosol vertical distribution when evaluating API effects due to the lack...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9151/2025/acp-25-9151-2025.pdf |
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| author | X. Chen X. Chen K. Li K. Li T. Yang X. Jin X. Jin L. Chen L. Chen Y. Yang Y. Yang S. Zhao B. Hu B. Zhu Z. Wang H. Liao H. Liao |
| author_facet | X. Chen X. Chen K. Li K. Li T. Yang X. Jin X. Jin L. Chen L. Chen Y. Yang Y. Yang S. Zhao B. Hu B. Zhu Z. Wang H. Liao H. Liao |
| author_sort | X. Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The significance of aerosol–photolysis interaction (API) in atmospheric photochemistry has been emphasized by studies utilizing box models and chemical transport models. However, few studies have considered the actual aerosol vertical distribution when evaluating API effects due to the lack of observations and the uncertainties in model simulation. Herein, we integrated lidar and radiosonde observations with the chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to quantify the response of photochemistry to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution across different seasons in North China. The underestimation of aerosol optical depth (AOD) in lower layers and the overestimation in upper layers in GEOS-Chem model were revised. In response, photolysis rates changed following AOD, showing 33.4 %–73.8 % increases at the surface. Surface ozone increased by an average of 0.9 and 0.5 ppb in winter and summer, and the default API impact on ozone reduced by 36 %–56 %. The weaker response in summer can be related to the compensatory effects of stronger turbulence mixing in the boundary layer. The long-lasting underestimation of ozone levels in winter was also greatly improved. Due to the enhanced photochemistry, PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span> increased by 0.8 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> in winter and 0.2 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> in summer and increased strongly during pollution events, with a maximum daily change of 16.5 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> at Beijing station in winter. The weakened API effect in turn enhanced nitric acid formation by increasing atmospheric oxidizing capacity (13.5 % increase for OH radical) in high NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emission areas, and this helps explain the strong response of PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span> in winter.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9bdbc2a6ff684971848e622c49004b81 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-9bdbc2a6ff684971848e622c49004b812025-08-22T05:47:16ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-08-01259151916810.5194/acp-25-9151-2025Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North ChinaX. Chen0X. Chen1K. Li2K. Li3T. Yang4X. Jin5X. Jin6L. Chen7L. Chen8Y. Yang9Y. Yang10S. Zhao11B. Hu12B. Zhu13Z. Wang14H. Liao15H. Liao16State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China<p>The significance of aerosol–photolysis interaction (API) in atmospheric photochemistry has been emphasized by studies utilizing box models and chemical transport models. However, few studies have considered the actual aerosol vertical distribution when evaluating API effects due to the lack of observations and the uncertainties in model simulation. Herein, we integrated lidar and radiosonde observations with the chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to quantify the response of photochemistry to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution across different seasons in North China. The underestimation of aerosol optical depth (AOD) in lower layers and the overestimation in upper layers in GEOS-Chem model were revised. In response, photolysis rates changed following AOD, showing 33.4 %–73.8 % increases at the surface. Surface ozone increased by an average of 0.9 and 0.5 ppb in winter and summer, and the default API impact on ozone reduced by 36 %–56 %. The weaker response in summer can be related to the compensatory effects of stronger turbulence mixing in the boundary layer. The long-lasting underestimation of ozone levels in winter was also greatly improved. Due to the enhanced photochemistry, PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span> increased by 0.8 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> in winter and 0.2 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> in summer and increased strongly during pollution events, with a maximum daily change of 16.5 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> at Beijing station in winter. The weakened API effect in turn enhanced nitric acid formation by increasing atmospheric oxidizing capacity (13.5 % increase for OH radical) in high NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emission areas, and this helps explain the strong response of PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span> in winter.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9151/2025/acp-25-9151-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | X. Chen X. Chen K. Li K. Li T. Yang X. Jin X. Jin L. Chen L. Chen Y. Yang Y. Yang S. Zhao B. Hu B. Zhu Z. Wang H. Liao H. Liao Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China |
| title_full | Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China |
| title_fullStr | Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China |
| title_short | Simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over North China |
| title_sort | simulated photochemical response to observational constraints on aerosol vertical distribution over north china |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9151/2025/acp-25-9151-2025.pdf |
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