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Simulated Sensitivity of Ozone Generation to Precursors in Beijing during a High O3 Episode

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Abstract

This study uses the WRF-Chem model combined with the empirical kinetic modeling method (EKMA curve) to study the compound pollution event in Beijing that happened in 13–23 May 2017. Sensitivity tests are conducted to analyze ozone sensitivity to its precursors, and to develop emission reduction measures. The results suggest that the model can accurately simulate the compound pollution process of photochemistry and haze. When VOCs and NOx were reduced by the same proportion, the effect of O3 reduction at peak time was more obvious, and the effect during daytime was more significant than at night. The degree of change in ozone was peak time > daytime average. When reducing or increasing the ratio of precursors by 25% at the same time, the effect of reducing 25% VOCs on the average ozone concentration reduction was most significant. The degree of change in ozone decreased with increasing altitude, the location of the ozone maximum change shifted westward, and its range narrowed. As the altitude increases, the VOCs-limited zone decreases, VOCs sensitivity decreases, NOx sensitivity increases. The controlled area changed from near-surface VOCs-limited to high-altitude NOx-limited. Upon examining the EKMA curve, we have found that suburban and urban are sensitive to VOCs. The sensitivity tests indicate that when VOCs in suburban are reduced about 60%, the O3-1h concentration could reach the standard, and when VOCs of the urban decreased by about 50%, the O3-1h concentration could reach the standard. Thus, these findings could provide references for the control of compound air pollution in Beijing.

摘 要

本研究使用WRF-Chem模型与经验动力学建模方法(EKMA曲线)相结合,研究了2017年5月13日至23日北京的一次复合污染过程,分析了臭氧及其前体物的敏感性,并以此制定减排方案。结果表明:WRF-Chem模式可以很好的模拟光化学和霾的复合污染过程。当VOCs和NOx削减相同比例时,O3峰值时刻减排效果更明显,白天效果较夜间显著;臭氧浓度变化程度大小为:峰值时刻>白天平均;同时削减或者增加前体物25%比例时,削减25%VOCs对臭氧平均浓度减排效果最显著,臭氧浓度变化程度随高度的升高而减弱,臭氧浓度变化最大值区的位置向西移动且范围缩小,随着高度的增加,VOCs控制区减小,VOCs敏感性减弱,NOx敏感性增强,控制区由近地面的VOCs控制向高空的NOx控制转变。通过绘制EKMA曲线发现郊区和城区都为VOCs控制区。敏感型试验表明,当郊区削减约60%VOCs时,O3-1h浓度即可达标,城区削减约50%VOCs左右时,O3-1h浓度即可达标。本研究成果可为北京复合污染控制提供参考。

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Acknowledgements

This study is funded by Air Pollution Special Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2017YFCOZ10006) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41975173)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PLA Troops No.78127, Chengdu, 610000, China

    Meng Cui

  2. Institute of Atmospheric Composition, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Xingqin An & Jianjun He

  3. School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119, China

    Li Xing

  4. Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, 710061, China

    Guohui Li

  5. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Guiqian Tang & Shuman Zhao

  6. School of Environment Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Xin Long

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  1. Meng Cui
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Correspondence to Xingqin An.

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Article Highlights

• Sensitivity tests and EKMA curve to analyze the ozone sensitivity to precursors and to develop emission reduction measures.

• Controlled area changes from limited near-surface VOCs to limited high-altitude NOx.

• The EKMA curve shows the sensitivity of suburban area (Changping) and urban area (Wanshou West Palace) to VOCs.

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Cui, M., An, X., Xing, L. et al. Simulated Sensitivity of Ozone Generation to Precursors in Beijing during a High O3 Episode. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 38, 1223–1237 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-0270-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-0270-4

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