In situ measurements of SO₂, NOx, NOy, and O₃ in Beijing, China during August 2008

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 409; no. 5; pp. 933 - 940
• Main Authors: Sun, Yang, Wang, Lili, Wang, Yuesi, Quan, Liu, Zirui, Liu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: air flow; Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollution; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; China; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Nitrogen Oxides; Nitrogen Oxides - analysis; ozone; Ozone - analysis; Photochemical; photochemical reactions; Pollutants; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Regional; Stadiums; statistics & numerical data; Sulfur Dioxide; Sulfur Dioxide - analysis; summer; Transportation; Vehicle Emissions; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Volatile organic compounds; wind direction; Asia; China; China, People's Rep., Beijing; Nitrogen oxide; Sulfur compounds; NO; Photochemical oxidants; OPE; Pollutant formation; Nitrogen compounds; Summer; Ozone; Secondary pollutant; Air quality; Photochemical reaction; Sulfur dioxide; Measurement in situ; SPM; Pollution source; Air pollution; Mixing ratio; SO
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.11.007

The measurement of SO₂, O₃, NO, NO₂, and NOy mixing ratios was conducted from Jul 28, 2008 to Sep 2, 2008 at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAP, CAS) station, which is 2km southwest to the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium). Photochemical pollution was detected during the measurement on Aug 2, 2008, and the maximum hourly average [O₃] reached 128ppbv, caused by both the local photochemical reactions and regional transportation of pollutants. The NOx Ozone Production Efficiency (OPE (NOx)) values were 6.9 and 20.2 on Aug 2 and Aug 24, 2008 respectively, which were the two days with highest O₃ pollution. The OPE (NOx) of 6.9 on Aug 2 was within a typical range in city area, and it implied that the high O₃ could be due to local sources. While OPE (NOx) of 20.2 on Aug 24 was larger than the typical value in the region, but lower than that of the surrounding clean area during 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony. It indicated that the pollution was because of regional transportation of pollutants. In addition, 60% of the extent of the Smog Production Model (SPM) data was less than 0.6 and the rest was slightly larger than 0.6, with maximum of 0.78. It indicated that the sensitivity of O₃ generated was volatile organic compounds (VOCs) control during the observation period. The SPM results also implied that O₃ product in high-O₃ day is a transition state from VOCs sensitivity to NOx sensitivity. Lastly, the analysis of the wind direction and extent of SPM showed that the photochemical pollution of this region was mostly subject to the influence of southeastern air flow in the summer.