Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-10-2021

Abstract

Aggressive air pollution control in China since 2013 has achieved sharp decreases in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), along with increased ozone (O-3) concentrations. Due to the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), China imposed nationwide restriction, leading to large reductions in economic activities and associated emissions. In particular, large decreases were found in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions (>50%) from transportation. However, O-3 increased in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), which cannot be fully explained by changes in NOx and volatile organic compound (VOCs) emissions. In this study, the Community Multi-scale Air Quality model was used to investigate O-3 increase in the YRD. Our results show a significant increase of atmospheric oxidation capacity (AOC) indicated by enhanced oxidants levels (up to +25%) especially in southern Jiangsu, Shanghai and northern Zhejiang, inducing the elevated O-3 during lockdown. Moreover, net P(HOx) of 0.4 to 1.6 ppb h(-1) during lockdown (Case 2) was larger than the case without lockdown (Case 1), mainly resulting in the enhanced AOC and higher O-3 production rate (+12%). This comprehensive analysis improves our understanding on AOC and associated O-3 formation, which helps to design effective strategies to control O-3. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

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