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Particle physical characterisation in the Yellow River Delta of Eastern China: number size distribution and new particle formation

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Abstract

Particle number concentration was measured in 2011 in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of eastern China. The objectives were to study the number size distribution characteristics of ambient aerosols and the meteorological effects on the particle physical characterisation, in addition to investigating the new particle formation (NPF) events in the Yellow River Delta. The particle formation rates and growth rates of the newborn particles were evaluated to identify the new particle formation events. The annual median total number concentration (5–10,000 nm) was 10,349 cm−3, with a maximum concentration in autumn and lowest in winter. A higher number concentration was observed for Aitken mode particles than for accumulation and nucleation mode particles. Higher temperature and lower humidity could favour the homogeneous nucleation. With increasing wind speed, the Aitken and accumulation mode particle numbers decreased obviously, and the particle sizes were reduced. Higher particle number concentrations were associated with southeast local air masses which passed from polluted area, and smaller diameter peaks were associated with northern air masses. In total, 26 new particle formation events were recorded during the 120 days of measurements, and this frequency was slightly lower than that observed in other cities in China. The mean growth and formation rates were calculated as 5.3 nm h−1 and 6.6 cm−3 s−1, respectively. High SO2 and O3 concentrations might have contributed to the increase in nucleation mode particles in the NPF events.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Programme (973 Programme) of China (2005CB422203), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Climate Change, Key Project of Shandong Provincial Environmental Agency (2006045), Promotive Research Fund for Young and Middle-aged Scientists of Shandong Province (BS2010HZ010), Independent Innovation Foundation of Shandong University (2009TS024) and Special Research for Public-Beneficial Environment Protection (201009001–1). The HYSPLIT mode was provided by the NOAA Air Resources Laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China

    Qi Yuan, Lingxiao Yang, Can Dong, Chao Yan, Chuanping Meng, Xiao Sui & Wenxing Wang

  2. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China

    Lingxiao Yang

  3. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Wenxing Wang

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  1. Qi Yuan
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Correspondence to Lingxiao Yang.

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Yuan, Q., Yang, L., Dong, C. et al. Particle physical characterisation in the Yellow River Delta of Eastern China: number size distribution and new particle formation. Air Qual Atmos Health 8, 441–452 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0293-4

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