Impacts of coal burning on ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> pollution in China
High concentration of fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), the primary concern about air quality in China, is believed to closely relate to China's large consumption of coal. In order to quantitatively identify the contributions of coal combustion in different sectors to ambient PM<...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-04-01
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Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/4477/2017/acp-17-4477-2017.pdf |
Summary: | High concentration of fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), the primary concern about
air quality in China, is believed to closely relate to China's large
consumption of coal. In order to quantitatively identify the contributions of
coal combustion in different sectors to ambient PM<sub>2. 5</sub>, we developed an
emission inventory for the year 2013 using up-to-date information on energy
consumption and emission controls, and we conducted standard and sensitivity
simulations using the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem. According to the
simulation, coal combustion contributes 22 µg m<sup>−3</sup> (40 %)
to the total PM<sub>2. 5</sub> concentration at national level (averaged in 74 major
cities) and up to 37 µg m<sup>−3</sup> (50 %) in the Sichuan Basin.
Among major coal-burning sectors, industrial coal burning is the dominant
contributor, with a national average contribution of 10 µg m<sup>−3</sup>
(17 %), followed by coal combustion in power plants and the domestic sector.
The national average contribution due to coal combustion is estimated to be
18 µg m<sup>−3</sup> (46 %) in summer and 28 µg m<sup>−3</sup>
(35 %) in winter. While the contribution of domestic coal burning shows
an obvious reduction from winter to summer, contributions of coal combustion
in power plants and the industrial sector remain at relatively constant levels
throughout the year. |
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ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |