Influence of Boundary Layer Structure and Low-Level Jet on PM2.5 Pollution in Beijing

A Case Study

Bibliographic Data

ID17801034
AuthorsYucong Miao (0000-0001-9531-4747, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences), Shuhua Liu (0000-0002-0088-6177, Peking University), Sheng Li (0000-0002-9662-9385, China Meteorological Administration, corresponding author), Shunxiang Huang (corresponding author), Jian Li (0009-0001-8947-8064, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences)
Year2019
Volume16
Issue4
Pages616-616
Publication date2019-02-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph16040616
PMID30791541
OpenAlexW2915425610
LanguageEN
References cited5

Beijing experiences frequent PM 2.5 pollution, which is influenced by the planetary boundary layer (PBL) structure/process. Partly due to a lack of appropriate observations, the impacts of PBL on PM 2.5 pollution are not yet fully understood. Combining wind-profiler data, radiosonde measurements, near-surface meteorological observations, aerosol measurements, and three-dimensional simulations, this study investigated the influence of PBL structure and the low-level jet (LLJ) on the pollution in Beijing from 19 to 20 September 2015. The evolution of the LLJ was generally well simulated by the model, although the wind speed within the PBL was overestimated. Being influenced by the large-scale southerly prevailing winds, the aerosols emitted from the southern polluted regions could be easily transported to Beijing, contributing to ~68% of the PM 2.5 measured in Beijing on 20 September. The relative contribution of external transport of PM 2.5 to Beijing was high in the afternoon (≥80%), which was related to the strong southerly PBL winds and the presence of thermally-induced upslope winds. On 20 September, the LLJ in Beijing demonstrated a prominent diurnal variation, which was predominant in the morning and after sunset. The occurrence of the LLJ could enhance the dilution capacity in Beijing to some extent, which favors the dilution of pollutants at a local scale. This study has important implications for better understanding the complexity of PBL structure/process associated with PM 2.5 pollution in Beijing

Air pollution · Atmospheric sciences · Beijing · Boundary layer · Climatology · Geography · Meteorology · Physics · Planetary boundary layer · Radiosonde · Turbulence · Wind speed · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Atmospheric aerosols and clouds · Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols · Chemistry · Environmental Science · Geology · Pollution