Simulations of Summertime Ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Pollution in Fenwei Plain (FWP) Using the WRF-Chem Model

In recent years, ozone and PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inlin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere
Main Authors: Yuxi Wang, Le Cao, Tong Zhang, Haijiang Kong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/2/292
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Summary:In recent years, ozone and PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> pollution has often occured in the Fenwei Plain due to heavy emission and favorable geographical conditions. In this study, we used the weather research and forecasting/chemistry (WRF-Chem) model to reproduce the complex air pollution of the ozone and PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> in the Fenwei Plain (FWP) from 20 May to 29 May 2015. By comparing the simulation results with the observed data, we found that although in some cities there was a bias between the simulated values and observed data, the model captured the trend of pollutants generally. Moreover, according to the assessment parameters, we validated that the deviations are acceptable. However, according to these parameters, we found that the WRF-Chem performed better on ozone simulation rather than PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Based on the validation, we further analyzed the pollutant distribution during the contaminated period. Generally speaking, the polluted area is mainly located in the cities of the Shanxi province and Henan province. Moreover, in this time period, pollution mainly occurred on 27 May and 28 May. In addition, due to different formation conditions of ozone and PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> pollution, the distribution characteristics of these two pollutants were also found to be different. Ozone pollution mainly occurred north of FWP due to the prevailing wind and the chemistry of ozone production. As for PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the pollution occurred at night and the polluted area was located in the FWP. Furthermore, high PM<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> areas were closed to emission sources in the FWP, showing a high correlation with primary emissions.
ISSN:2073-4433