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A new method for quantitatively characterizing atmospheric oxidation capacity

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Abstract

Based on atmospheric chemical kinetics, the rate constant of overall pseudo-first order oxidation removal of gaseous pollutants (K por,T ) is proposed to characterize the atmospheric oxidation capacity in troposphere. Being a quantitative parameter, K por,T can be used to address the issues related to atmospheric oxidation capacity. By applying this method, the regional oxidation capacity of the atmosphere in Pearl River Delta (PRD) is numerically simulated based on CBM-IV chemical mechanism. Results show the significant spatio-temporal variation of the atmospheric oxidation capacity in PRD. It is found that OH initiated oxidations, heterogeneous oxidation of SO2, and photolysis of aldehydes are the three most important oxidation processes influencing the atmospheric oxidation capacity in PRD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    YanLi Cheng, XueSong Wang, ZhaoRong Liu, YuHua Bai & JinLong Li

  2. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    YanLi Cheng

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  1. YanLi Cheng
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  2. XueSong Wang
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  3. ZhaoRong Liu
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  4. YuHua Bai
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  5. JinLong Li
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Correspondence to XueSong Wang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos: 2005CB422204, 2002CB410802, and 2002CB410801)

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Cheng, Y., Wang, X., Liu, Z. et al. A new method for quantitatively characterizing atmospheric oxidation capacity. Sci. China Ser. B-Chem. 51, 1102–1109 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-008-0119-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-008-0119-z

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