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Chen P, Kang S, Hu Y, Pu T, Liu Y, Wang S, Rai M, Wang K, Tripathee L, Li C. South and Southeast Asia controls black carbon characteristics of Meili Snow Mountains in southeast Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172262. [PMID: 38583605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
South and Southeast Asia (SSA) emitted black carbon (BC) exerts potential effects on glacier and snow melting and regional climate change in the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, online BC measurements were conducted for 1 year at a remote village located at the terminus of the Mingyong Glacier below the Meili Snow Mountains. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) was used to investigate the contribution and potential effect of SSA-emitted BC. In addition, variations in the light absorption characteristics of BC and brown carbon (BrC) were examined. The results indicated that the annual mean concentration of BC was 415 ± 372 ngm-3, with the highest concentration observed in April (monthly mean: 930 ± 484 ngm-3). BC exhibited a similar diurnal variation throughout the year, with two peaks observed in the morning (from 8:00 to 9:00 AM) and in the afternoon (from 4:00 to 5:00 PM), with even lower values at nighttime. At a short wavelength of 370 nm, the absorption coefficient (babs) reached its maximum value, and the majority of babs values were < 20 Mm-1, indicating that the atmosphere was not overloaded with BC. At the same wavelength, BrC substantially contributed to babs, with an annual mean of 25.2 % ± 12.8 %. SSA was the largest contributor of BC (annual mean: 51.1 %) in the study area, particularly in spring (65.6 %). However, its contributions reached 20.2 % in summer, indicating non-negligible emissions from activities in other regions. In the atmosphere, the SSA BC-induced radiative forcing (RF) over the study region was positive. While at the near surface, the RF exhibited a significant seasonal variation, with the larger RF values occurring in winter and spring. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of controlling BC emissions from SSA to protect the Tibetan Plateau against pollution-related glacier and snow cover melting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yuling Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tao Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yajun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shijin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Yulong Snow Mountain National Field Observation and Research Station for Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mukesh Rai
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chaoliu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Clifford HM, Potocki M, Koch I, Sherpa T, Handley M, Korotkikh E, Introne D, Kaspari S, Miner K, Matthews T, Perry B, Guy H, Gajurel A, Singh PK, Elvin S, Elmore AC, Tait A, Mayewski PA. A case study using 2019 pre-monsoon snow and stream chemistry in the Khumbu region, Nepal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:148006. [PMID: 34082206 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This case study provides a framework for future monitoring and evidence for human source pollution in the Khumbu region, Nepal. We analyzed the chemical composition (major ions, major/trace elements, black carbon, and stable water isotopes) of pre-monsoon stream water (4300-5250 m) and snow (5200-6665 m) samples collected from Mt. Everest, Mt. Lobuche, and the Imja Valley during the 2019 pre-monsoon season, in addition to a shallow ice core recovered from the Khumbu Glacier (5300 m). In agreement with previous work, pre-monsoon aerosol deposition is dominated by dust originating from western sources and less frequently by transport from southerly air mass sources as demonstrated by evidence of one of the strongest recorded pre-monsoon events emanating from the Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Fani. Elevated concentrations of human-sourced metals (e.g., Pb, Bi, As) are found in surface snow and stream chemistry collected in the Khumbu region. As the most comprehensive case study of environmental chemistry in the Khumbu region, this research offers sufficient evidence for increased monitoring in this watershed and surrounding areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Clifford
- Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, ME, USA; School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, ME, USA.
| | - Mariusz Potocki
- Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, ME, USA; School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, ME, USA
| | - Inka Koch
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, Nepal; Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tenzing Sherpa
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Mike Handley
- Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, ME, USA
| | | | | | - Susan Kaspari
- Department of Geological Sciences, Central Washington University, WA, USA
| | | | - Tom Matthews
- Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Baker Perry
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, NC, USA
| | - Heather Guy
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Ananta Gajurel
- Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Praveen Kumar Singh
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, Nepal; CoEDMM, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sandra Elvin
- National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aurora C Elmore
- National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alex Tait
- National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW, Washington, DC, USA
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Estimation, and Framework Proposal of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Fluorinated Substitutes for Ozone-Depleting Substances by Application Area in the Republic of Korea. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12166355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Since fluorine compounds have both high ozone depletion potential and high global warming potential, the study of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) is crucial for climate change research. In this study, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ozone-depleting industries in the Republic of Korea were estimated based on survey data on the use of fluorine compounds. This study is a response to the growing global attention to halocarbons that arose from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Survey data on the consumption of fluorine compounds by application area were used to estimate emissions by applying the 2019 refinement IPCC Guidelines Tier 1a method. In addition, both the consumption ratio of fluorine compounds in the refrigeration and air conditioning application area and total fluorine compounds consumption by application area were compared with the values suggested by the UN Environment Programme to compare the current status with that in developing and developed countries. By comparing the derived GHG emissions with current emissions in the National Inventory Report, it was confirmed that 14,565 GgCO2eq of GHG emissions differed. In addition, through the replacement of fluorine compounds used as refrigerants, 14,422 GgCO2eq of the GHG emissions can be reduced.
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Anand V, Panicker AS, Beig G. Gaseous pollutants over different sites in a metropolitan region (Pune) over India. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2472-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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An Overview of the Integrated Meteorological Observations in Complex Terrain Region at Dali National Climate Observatory, China. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11030279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Systematically observing components of the climate system as well as their processes and interactions are crucial to understand the weather, climate, climate change, etc. In order to launch long-term, continuous, stereoscopic, and integrated meteorological observations for key regions of the climate system in southwestern China where it is sensitive to interactions among multiple layers and exchanges of mass and energy, the Dali National Climate Observatory (DNCO) was established in May 2006. To date, the DNCO has gradually performed an integrated meteorological observation network in a complex terrain region over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau including the conventional observations of weather and climate, and the special observations of radiation, lightning, soil moisture, wind profile, water vapor, water quality, water level, water temperature profile, turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, latent heat, carbon dioxide, and methane, etc. Furthermore, the DNCO mainly focuses on the field observation experiments and scientific research activities for mountain meteorology. This paper presents an overview of the DNCO including its location, climatology, scientific objectives, research tasks, and existing observation projects. The progresses in observation and associated research including data quality controls and assessments, recent observation results, and regional numerical model tests are summarized. Future works are also discussed.
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Characteristics of PM2.5 at a High-Altitude Remote Site in the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau in Premonsoon Season. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10110645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is one of the world’s most sensitive areas for climate change. Previous studies have revealed that air pollutants emitted from South and Southeast Asia can be transported to and have a negative impact on the TP. However, the majority of the investigators have focused on the pollutant transport processes from South Asian regions (i.e., India and Bangladesh) and parts of Southeast Asia, while the regions adjacent to the southeast fringe of the TP (i.e., Burma and the Sino-Burmese border) have been neglected. Here, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected during the period 11 March to 13 May 2018 at Gaomeigu, a high-altitude remote site in the southeastern margin of the TP. Characteristics, sources of PM2.5, and the potential source regions for different chemical components were investigated. During the sampling time, PM2.5 mass loadings ranged from 3.79 to 54.57 µg m−3, with an arithmetic mean concentration of 20.99 ± 9.80 µg m−3. In general, major peaks of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) always coincided with high loadings of K+ and NO3−, which implies that common combustion sources caused these species’ concentrations to covary, while the daily variations of crustal elements showed different trends with the other chemical compositions, suggesting different source regions for crustal materials. Five source factors were identified as possible aerosol sources for PM2.5 by positive matrix factorization (PMF). They are the mining industry (5.3%), characterized by heavy metal elements; secondary formation (18.8%), described by the high concentrations of NH4+ and SO42−; traffic-related emissions (26.7%), dominated by carbonaceous species (especially soot-EC) and some metal elements; fugitive dust (15.2%), represented by crustal elements (Ti, Fe, and Mn), Ca2+, and Mg2+; and biomass burning (34.0%), which is typified by high concentrations of K+, NO3−, char-EC, primary OC, and secondary OC. The concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis results showed that the northeast part of Burma is the potential source region for high concentrations of EC and NO3− due to biomass burning emissions, while the tourism industry surrounding Gaomeigu gave strong grid cell values of SO42− as well as moderate values of EC and NO3−. Moreover, the mining industry in the southwest direction of Gaomeigu has important impacts on the zinc concentrations.
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Chen P, Kang S, Li C, Zhang Q, Guo J, Tripathee L, Zhang Y, Li G, Gul C, Cong Z, Wan X, Niu H, Panday AK, Rupakheti M, Ji Z. Carbonaceous aerosol characteristics on the Third Pole: A primary study based on the Atmospheric Pollution and Cryospheric Change (APCC) network. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 253:49-60. [PMID: 31302402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Carbonaceous aerosols (CAs) scatter and absorb incident solar radiation in the atmosphere, thereby influencing the regional climate and hydrological cycle, particularly in the Third Pole (TP). Here, we present the characteristics of CAs at 19 observation stations from the Atmospheric Pollution and Cryospheric Change network to obtain a deep understanding of pollutant status in the TP. The organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations decreased noticeably inwards from outside to inland of the TP, consistent with their emission load and also affected by transport process and meteorological condition. Urban areas, such as Kathmandu, Karachi, and Mardan, exhibited extremely high OC and EC concentrations, with low and high values occurring in the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons, respectively. However, remote regions inland the TP (e.g., Nam Co and Ngari) demonstrated much lower OC and EC concentrations. Different seasonal variations were observed between the southern and northern parts of the TP, suggesting differences in the patterns of pollutant sources and in distance from the sources between the two regions. In addition to the influence of long-range transported pollutants from the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), the TP was affected by local emissions (e.g., biomass burning). The OC/EC ratio also suggested that biomass burning was prevalent in the center TP, whereas the marginal sites (e.g., Jomsom, Dhunche, and Laohugou) were affected by fossil fuel combustion from the up-wind regions. The mass absorption cross-section of EC (MACEC) at 632 nm ranged from 6.56 to 14.7 m2 g-1, with an increasing trend from outside to inland of the TP. Urban areas had low MACEC values because such regions were mainly affected by local fresh emissions. In addition, large amount of brown carbon can decrease the MACEC values in cities of South Asia. Remote sites had high MACEC values because of the coating enhancement of aerosols. Influenced by emission, transport process, and weather condition, the CA concentrations and MACEC presented decreasing and increasing trends, respectively, from outside to inland of the TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Chaoliu Li
- Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yulan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Gang Li
- Arid Meteorological Research Institute, Lanzhou Meteorological Bureau, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Chaman Gul
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhiyuan Cong
- Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xin Wan
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hewen Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Arnico K Panday
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, 44700, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Zhenming Ji
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Southern Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering (Guangdong, Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China
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New Particle Formation: A Review of Ground-Based Observations at Mountain Research Stations. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10090493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
New particle formation (NPF) was predicted to contribute to a major fraction of free tropospheric particle number and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations by global models. At high altitudes, pre-existing particle concentrations are low, leading to limited condensational sinks for nucleation precursor gases, and temperatures are cooler compared to lower altitudes, whereas radiation is higher. These factors would all be in favor of nucleation to occur with an enhanced frequency at high altitudes. In the present work, long term data from six altitude stations (and four continents) at various altitudes (from 1465 to 5240 m a.s.l) were used to derive statistically relevant NPF features (frequency, formation rates, and growth rates) and seasonal variability. The combined information together with literature data showed that the frequencies of NPF events at the two Southern hemisphere (SH) stations are some of the highest reported thus far (64% and 67%, respectively). There are indications that NPF would be favored at a preferential altitude close to the interface of the free troposphere (FT) with the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and/or at the vicinity with clouds, which otherwise inhibit the occurrence of NPF. Particle formation rates are found to be lower at high altitudes than at low altitude sites, but a higher fraction of particles are formed via the charged pathway (mainly related to positive ions) compared to boundary layer (BL) sites. Low condensational sinks (CS) are not necessarily needed at high altitudes to promote the occurrence of NPF. For stations at altitudes higher than 1000 m a.s.l., higher CSs favor NPF and are thought to be associated with precursor gases needed to initiate nucleation and early growth.
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Semple JL, Moore GWK, Koutrakis P, Wolfson JM, Cristofanelli P, Bonasoni P. High Concentrations of Ozone Air Pollution on Mount Everest: Health Implications for Sherpa Communities and Mountaineers. High Alt Med Biol 2016; 17:365-369. [PMID: 27763773 DOI: 10.1089/ham.2016.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Semple, John L., G.W. Kent Moore, Petros Koutrakis, Jack M. Wolfson, Paolo Cristofanelli, and Paolo Bonasoni. High concentrations of ozone air pollution on Mount Everest: health implications for Sherpa communities and mountaineers. High Alt Med Biol. 17:365-369, 2016.-Introduction: Populations in remote mountain regions are increasingly vulnerable to multiple climate mechanisms that influence levels of air pollution. Few studies have reported on climate-sensitive health outcomes unique to high altitude ecosystems. In this study, we report on the discovery of high-surface ozone concentrations and the potential impact on health outcomes on Mount Everest and the high Himalaya. MATERIALS AND METHODS Surface ozone measurements were collected during ascending transects in the Mount Everest region of Nepal with passive nitrite-coated Ogawa filter samplers to obtain 8-hour personal exposures (2860-5364 m asl). In addition, the Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid, a GAW-WMO Global Station sited in the Khumbu Valley (5079 m asl), collected ozone mixing ratios with photometric gas analyzer. RESULTS Surface ozone measurements increased with altitude with concentrations that exceed 100 ppb (8-hour exposure). Highest values were during the spring season and the result of diverse contributions: hemispheric background values, the descent of ozone-rich stratospheric air, and the transport of tropospheric pollutants occurring at different spatial scales. DISCUSSION Multiple climate factors, including descending stratospheric ozone and imported anthropogenic air masses from the Indo-Gangetic Plain, contribute to ambient ozone exposure levels in the vicinity of Mount Everest that are similar to if not higher than those reported in industrialized cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Semple
- 1 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada
| | - G W Kent Moore
- 2 Department of Physics, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- 3 Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Harvard University , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jack M Wolfson
- 3 Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Harvard University , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paolo Cristofanelli
- 4 Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate , National Research Council of Italy, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonasoni
- 4 Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate , National Research Council of Italy, Bologna, Italy
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Yang Y, Zhou R, Yan Y, Yu Y, Liu J, Di Y, Du Z, Wu D. Seasonal variations and size distributions of water-soluble ions of atmospheric particulate matter at Shigatse, Tibetan Plateau. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 145:560-567. [PMID: 26717026 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.11.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Size-segregated atmospheric particulate matter (PM) samples were collected from July 2012 to September 2013 at Shigatse, high-altitude (3836 m above sea level) site on the south Tibetan Plateau (TP); objectives were to determine the characteristics and size distribution of water-soluble ions (WSIs). Eight major WSIs (Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), NH4(+), Cl(-), SO4(2-), and NO3(-)) were detected by ion chromatography. The total concentrations of WSIs were 6370 ± 1916 ng m(-3) in dry season (October - December, January - April), and 5261 ± 769 ng/m(3) during wet phase (May - September). The contribution of K(+) (130 ng m(-3)), Cl(-) (2035 ng m(-3)), SO4(2-) (1176 ng m(-3)), and NO3(-) (706 ng m(-3))(-)were significantly enhanced in dry season, and that of Na(+) (455 ng m(-3)), Mg(2+)(65.4 ng m(-3)), Ca(2+)(1034 ng m(-3)), and NH4(+) (1948 ng m(-3)) were significantly enhanced during wet phase. Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) were concentrated in the coarse mode, and the other ions concentrated in fine mode and coarse mode during two seasons. The correlation coefficients between K(+) and NH4(+), Cl(-), SO4(2-) and NO3(-) were 0.58 (P < 0.01), 0.40 (P < 0.05), 0.82 (P < 0.01) and 0.69 (P < 0.01), indicating their dominant contribution from biomass burning in dry season. The significant correlation between NH4(+) and HCO3(-) which were calculated by ion balance (r = 0.89, P < 0.01), suggesting the source from nitrogen fertilizers during wet phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Yang
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Rui Zhou
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yan Yan
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yue Yu
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Junqing Liu
- Weather Modification Center of Tibet, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Yi'an Di
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhenyu Du
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Dan Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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Lin W, Xu X, Zheng X, Dawa J, Baima C, Ma J. Two-year measurements of surface ozone at Dangxiong, a remote highland site in the Tibetan Plateau. J Environ Sci (China) 2015; 31:133-145. [PMID: 25968267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2014.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Measurements of surface O3 and carbon monoxide (CO) were made from September 2009 to August 2011 at Dangxiong (30.48°N, 91.10°E, 4187 m a.s.l.), a remote highland site in a southern valley of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains in the Tibetan Plateau, China. The monthly mean O3 mixing ratio ranged from 29.1 to 51.4 ppb, with an average of 38.5 ppb, and the maximum value was observed in May. The average diurnal cycle of O3 concentration showed a minimum in early morning and a maximum in the afternoon, with a broader "high platform" from the late morning to the late afternoon, and resembled that of surface wind speed. The concentration of surface O3 was highly significantly correlated with tropospheric column O3 over the regions surrounding Dangxiong and with that of surface O3 observed at a site north of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, suggesting a good regional representativeness of surface O3 at Dangxiong. In the afternoon when stronger winds blew, surface air showed distinct features of free-atmospheric air, with higher O3, lower CO, and lower relative humidity (RH). The negative O3-CO and O3-RH correlations in most months indicate a significant influence of air masses from the free troposphere. Trajectory analysis suggests that air masses originating from the south of the site make a negative net contribution to surface O3 and a positive contribution to CO and humidity, and those from the northwest sector contribute conversely to the respective quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Lin
- Centre for Atmosphere Watch & Services, Meteorological Observation Centre, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaobin Xu
- Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Xiangdong Zheng
- Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jaxi Dawa
- Dangxiong Meteorological Bureau, Lhasa 851500, China
| | - Ciren Baima
- Lhasa Meteorological Bureau, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Jin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Balestrini R, Polesello S, Sacchi E. Chemistry and isotopic composition of precipitation and surface waters in Khumbu valley (Nepal Himalaya): N dynamics of high elevation basins. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 485-486:681-692. [PMID: 24747259 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We monitored the chemical and isotopic compositions of wet depositions, at the Pyramid International Laboratory (5050 ma.s.l.), and surrounding surface waters, in the Khumbu basin, to understand precipitation chemistry and to obtain insights regarding ecosystem responses to atmospheric inputs. The major cations in the precipitation were NH4(+) and Ca(2+), whereas the main anion was HCO3(-), which constituted approximately 69% of the anions, followed by NO3(-), SO4(2-) and Cl(-). Data analysis suggested that Na(+), Cl(-) and K(+) were derived from the long-range transport of marine aerosols. Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and HCO3(-) were related to rock and soil dust contributions and the NO3(-) and SO4(2-) concentrations were derived from anthropogenic sources. Furthermore, NH4(+) was derived from gaseous NH3 scavenging. The isotopic composition of weekly precipitation ranged from -1.9 to -23.2‰ in δ(18)O, and from -0.8 to -174‰ in δ(2)H, with depleted values characterizing the central part of the monsoon period. The chemical composition of the stream water was dominated by calcite and/or gypsum dissolution. However, the isotopic composition of the stream water did not fully reflect the composition of the monsoon precipitation, which suggested that other water sources contributed to the stream flow. Precipitation contents for all ions were the lowest ones among those measured in high elevation sites around the world. During the monsoon periods the depositions were not substantially influenced by anthropogenic inputs, while in pre- and post-monsoon seasons the Himalayas could not represent an effective barrier for airborne pollution. In the late monsoon phase, the increase of ionic contents in precipitation could also be due to a change in the moisture source. The calculated atmospheric N load (0.30 kg ha(-1) y(-1)) was considerably lower than the levels that were measured in other high-altitude environments. Nevertheless, the NO3(-) concentrations in the surface waters (from 2 to 17 μeq L(-1)) were greater than expected based on the low N inputs from wet deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Balestrini
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Stefano Polesello
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Elisa Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia and IGG-CNR, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Evaluating Satellite Products for Precipitation Estimation in Mountain Regions: A Case Study for Nepal. REMOTE SENSING 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/rs5084107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Xu J, Zhang Q, Li X, Ge X, Xiao C, Ren J, Qin D. Dissolved organic matter and inorganic ions in a central Himalayan glacier--insights into chemical composition and atmospheric sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:6181-6188. [PMID: 23668686 DOI: 10.1021/es4009882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Melting of Himalayan glaciers can be accelerated by the deposition of airborne black carbon and mineral dust as it leads to significant reductions of the surface albedo of snow and ice. Whereas South Asia has been shown a primary source region to these particles, detailed sources of these aerosol pollutants remain poorly understood. In this study, the chemical compositions of snow pit samples collected from Jima Yangzong glacier in the central Himalayas were analyzed to obtain information of atmospheric aerosols deposited from summer 2009 to spring 2010. Especially, an Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) was used for the first time to chemically characterize the dissolved organic and inorganic matter (DOM and DIM) in snow samples. The concentrations of these species varied seasonally, with high levels observed during the winter-spring period and low levels during the summer monsoon period. On average, the dissolved substances was dominated by organics (58%) with important contributions from inorganic species, NO3(-) (12.5%), Ca(2+) (9.1%), NH4(+) (8.7%), and SO(4)(2-) (8.1%). DOM was found more oxidized with an average (± 1σ) atomic oxygen-to-carbon ratio (nO/nC) of 0.64 (± 0.14) and organic mass-to-carbon ratio (OM/OC) of 2.01 (± 0.19) during the winter-spring periods compared to the summer season (nO/nC = 0.31 ± 0.09 and OM/OC = 1.58 ± 0.12). In addition, biomass burning particles were found significantly enhanced in snow during the winter-spring periods, consistent with HYSPLIT back trajectory analysis of air mass history, which indicates prevailing atmospheric transport from northwest India and Nepal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Li S, Yao T, Tian L, Wang P. Seasonal transition characteristics of the westerly jet: Study based on field observations at an altitude of 6900 m on the Mt. Xixiabangma Dasuopu glacier. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-011-4508-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Stone EA, Schauer JJ, Pradhan BB, Dangol PM, Habib G, Venkataraman C, Ramanathan V. Characterization of emissions from South Asian biofuels and application to source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosol in the Himalayas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009jd011881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ming J, Xiao C, Sun J, Kang S, Bonasoni P. Carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere and precipitation of the Nam Co region, central Tibet. J Environ Sci (China) 2010; 22:1748-56. [PMID: 21235163 DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0742(09)60315-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A continuous air and precipitation sampling for carbonaceous particles was conducted in a field observatory beside Nam Co, Central Tibetan Plateau during July of 2006 through January of 2007. Organic carbon (OC) was the dominant composition of the carbonaceous particles both in the atmosphere (1660 ng/m3) and precipitation (476 ng/g) in this area, while the average elemental carbon (BC) concentrations in the atmosphere and precipitation were only 82 ng/m3 and 8 ng/g, respectively. Very high OC/BC ratio suggested local secondary organic carbon could be a dominant contribution to OC over the Nam Co region, while BC could be mainly originated from Southern Asia, as indicated by trajectory analysis and aerosol optical depth. Comparison between the BC concentrations measured in Lhasa, those at "Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid (NCO-P)" site on the southern slope of the Himalayas, and Nam Co suggested BC in the Nam Co region reflected a background with weak anthropogenic disturbances and the emissions from Lhasa might have little impact on the atmospheric environment here, while the pollutants from the Indo-Gangetic Basin of Southern Asia could be transported to the Nam Co region by both the summer monsoon and the westerly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Region Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Komppula M, Lihavainen H, Hyvärinen AP, Kerminen VM, Panwar TS, Sharma VP, Viisanen Y. Physical properties of aerosol particles at a Himalayan background site in India. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd011007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Hyvärinen A, Lihavainen H, Komppula M, Sharma VP, Kerminen V, Panwar TS, Viisanen Y. Continuous measurements of optical properties of atmospheric aerosols in Mukteshwar, northern India. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd011489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Abstract
Rising air pollution levels in South Asia will have worldwide environmental consequences. Transport of pollutants from the densely populated regions of India, Pakistan, China, and Nepal to the Himalayas may lead to substantial radiative forcing in South Asia with potential effects on the monsoon circulation and, hence, on regional climate and hydrological cycles, as well as to dramatic impacts on glacier retreat. An improved description of particulate sources is needed to constrain the simulation of future regional climate changes. Here, the first evidence of very frequent new particle formation events occurring up to high altitudes is presented. A 16-month record of aerosol size distribution from the Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid (Nepal, 5,079 m above sea level), the highest atmospheric research station, is shown. Aerosol concentrations are driven by intense ultrafine particle events occurring on >35% of the days at the interface between clean tropospheric air and the more polluted air rising from the valleys. During a pilot study, we observed a significant increase of ion cluster concentrations with the onset of new particle formation events. The ion clusters rapidly grew to a 10-nm size within a few hours, confirming, thus, that in situ nucleation takes place up to high altitudes. The initiation of the new particle events coincides with the shift from free tropospheric downslope winds to thermal upslope winds from the valley in the morning hours. The new particle formation events represent a very significant additional source of particles possibly injected into the free troposphere by thermal winds.
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