Spatial-Temporal Distribution and Variation of NO2 and Its Sources and Chemical Sinks in Shanxi Province, China

Abstract

In present China, continuing to control PM2.5 (particulate matter < 2.5 μm) and preventing the rise of O3 are the most urgent environmental tasks in its air clean actions. Considering that NO2 is an important precursor of PM2.5 and O3, a comprehensive analysis around this pollutant was conducted based on the real-time-monitoring-data from Jan 2018 to Mar 2019 in 11 prefecture-level cities in Shanxi Province of China. The results showed that the annual average concentration of NO2 in Shanxi prefecture-level cities is mainly distributed in the range of 28.84–48.93 μg/m3 with the values in five cities exceeding the Chinese Grade Ⅱ standard limit (40 μg/m3). The over-standard days were all concentrated in the heating season with a large pollution peak occurring in winter except in Lvliang, while four cities also had a small pollution peak in summer. High NO2 polluted areas were mainly concentrated in the central part of Shanxi, and trended on the whole from the southwest to the northeast (Lvliang/Linfen—Taiyuan/Jinzhong—Yangquan/Jinzhong), which was different from the spatial distribution of PM2.5 and O3. Lvliang was the hot spot of NO2 pollution in summer, while Taiyuan was the hot spot in winter. Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis indicated that central-north Shaanxi, central-south Shanxi, northern Henan, the south of Shijiazhuang and areas around Erdos in Inner Mongolia were important source areas of NO2 in Shanxi besides local emissions. Our findings are expected to provide valuable implications to policymakers in Shanxi of China to effectively abate the air pollution.

Mass-Conserving Inversion of NOx Emissions and Inferred Combustion Technologies in Energy Rich Northern China Based on Multi-Year Daily Remotely Sensed and Continuous Surface Measurements

“…Two recent examples are the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan from 2013 to 2017 and the Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Battle in Defense of Blue Sky from 2018 to 2020 (Geng et al, 2019;Jiang et al, 2021), which have led to a significant reduction in annual average concentrations of particulate manuscript submitted to Earth's Future matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in Shanxi Province . Shanxi is selected for this study, as it is a highly energy rich location that produces more than 25% of all of China's coal, as well as having substantial industry that consumes a significant amount of the coal for both local energy production and export, steel, cement, coke, and aluminum production, among other economic activities (Li et al, 2022). Furthermore, due to its relatively dry climate, high elevation, and mountainous geography, it has complex underlying natural factors also impacting its atmospheric environment.…”