Crop Residue Burning in Northeast China and Its Impact on PM2.5 Concentrations in South Korea

Abstract

The impact of crop residue burning in northeastern China on South Korean PM2.5 concentrations was assessed via weather conditions, air quality modeling (AQM), and PM2.5 composition data during two cases exceeding 35 µg·m−3 in November 2015. PM2.5 concentration simulations of Case 1 differed from observations by 3.7–17.6 µg·m−3, overestimating the levels by 6–36%; however, Case 2 varied by 20.0–59.8 µg·m−3 from observations, with a 53–91% underestimation. Case 1 was generally well simulated, whereas the Case 2 simulation failed because the emissions of crop residue burning in northeastern China, as confirmed through satellite analysis (MODIS fires and thermal anomalies) and previous research, were not considered. The portion of organic/elemental carbon ratio during Case 2 was 1.6–2.3 times higher than that of Case 1. These results suggest that it is necessary to consider the effects of crop residue burning in northeast China to establish countermeasures to improve air quality and air quality forecasting in South Korea.

Wintertime Heavy Haze Episodes in Northeast China Driven by Agricultural Fire Emissions

“…Compared to that of other parts of China (e.g., north China, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta), our understanding of PM 2.5 pollution in northeast China is limited, − hampering the development of effective pollution-control strategies. The winter in northeast China (located between 40°N and 55°N) features extremely cold weather, which often leads to strong surface inversion conducive to pollution build-up and high relative humidity favorable for aqueous aerosol formation .…”