Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China

<p>Organic aerosol (OA) is a major type of fine particulate matter. OA shows a large variability influenced by anthropogenic emissions, vegetation, and meteorological changes. Understanding OA trends is crucial for air quality and climate studies, yet changes in OA over time in China are poorl...

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Main Authors: W. Zhang, Y. Liu, M. Yue, X. Dong, K. Huang, M. Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/3857/2025/acp-25-3857-2025.pdf
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author W. Zhang
Y. Liu
Y. Liu
M. Yue
M. Yue
X. Dong
X. Dong
X. Dong
K. Huang
K. Huang
K. Huang
M. Wang
M. Wang
author_facet W. Zhang
Y. Liu
Y. Liu
M. Yue
M. Yue
X. Dong
X. Dong
X. Dong
K. Huang
K. Huang
K. Huang
M. Wang
M. Wang
author_sort W. Zhang
collection DOAJ
description <p>Organic aerosol (OA) is a major type of fine particulate matter. OA shows a large variability influenced by anthropogenic emissions, vegetation, and meteorological changes. Understanding OA trends is crucial for air quality and climate studies, yet changes in OA over time in China are poorly documented. This study applied the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 with comprehensive tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry (CAM6-Chem) to investigate long-term OA trends in China from 1990 to 2019 and identify the driving factors. The simulations agreed well with ground-based measurements of OA from 151 observational sites and the CAQRA reanalysis dataset. Although OA trends showed a modest 5.6 % increase, this resulted from a significant <span class="inline-formula">−8.1</span> % decrease in primary organic aerosols (POAs) and a substantial 32.3 % increase in secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Anthropogenic emissions of POA and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were the dominant contributors to these trends. While biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) played a secondary role in SOA formation, significant changes were observed in specific subspecies: isoprene-derived SOA decreased by <span class="inline-formula">−18.8</span> % due to anthropogenic sulfate reduction, while monoterpene-derived SOA increased by 12.3 % driven by enhanced emissions from rising temperatures. Through sensitivity experiments, our study found a negligible response of monoterpene-derived SOA to changes in anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (<span class="inline-formula">NO<sub><i>x</i></sub></span>) emissions as a net effect of changes in multiple pathways. This study highlights the complex interplay between POA reduction and SOA growth, revealing notable OA trends in China and the varying roles of both anthropogenic and biogenic emissions.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-3e35a5900cb74fcbaea475b40e37ef762025-08-20T01:55:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-04-01253857387210.5194/acp-25-3857-2025Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in ChinaW. Zhang0Y. Liu1Y. Liu2M. Yue3M. Yue4X. Dong5X. Dong6X. Dong7K. Huang8K. Huang9K. Huang10M. Wang11M. Wang12School of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaZhejiang Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaZhejiang Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaFrontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaJoint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences and Institute for Climate and Global Change Research, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaInstitute of Eco-Chongming, Shanghai, ChinaIRDR ICoEon Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, ChinaJoint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences and Institute for Climate and Global Change Research, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China<p>Organic aerosol (OA) is a major type of fine particulate matter. OA shows a large variability influenced by anthropogenic emissions, vegetation, and meteorological changes. Understanding OA trends is crucial for air quality and climate studies, yet changes in OA over time in China are poorly documented. This study applied the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 with comprehensive tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry (CAM6-Chem) to investigate long-term OA trends in China from 1990 to 2019 and identify the driving factors. The simulations agreed well with ground-based measurements of OA from 151 observational sites and the CAQRA reanalysis dataset. Although OA trends showed a modest 5.6 % increase, this resulted from a significant <span class="inline-formula">−8.1</span> % decrease in primary organic aerosols (POAs) and a substantial 32.3 % increase in secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Anthropogenic emissions of POA and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were the dominant contributors to these trends. While biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) played a secondary role in SOA formation, significant changes were observed in specific subspecies: isoprene-derived SOA decreased by <span class="inline-formula">−18.8</span> % due to anthropogenic sulfate reduction, while monoterpene-derived SOA increased by 12.3 % driven by enhanced emissions from rising temperatures. Through sensitivity experiments, our study found a negligible response of monoterpene-derived SOA to changes in anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (<span class="inline-formula">NO<sub><i>x</i></sub></span>) emissions as a net effect of changes in multiple pathways. This study highlights the complex interplay between POA reduction and SOA growth, revealing notable OA trends in China and the varying roles of both anthropogenic and biogenic emissions.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/3857/2025/acp-25-3857-2025.pdf
spellingShingle W. Zhang
Y. Liu
Y. Liu
M. Yue
M. Yue
X. Dong
X. Dong
X. Dong
K. Huang
K. Huang
K. Huang
M. Wang
M. Wang
Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
title_full Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
title_fullStr Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
title_short Understanding the long-term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in China
title_sort understanding the long term trend of organic aerosol and the influences from anthropogenic emission and regional climate change in china
url https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/3857/2025/acp-25-3857-2025.pdf
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