Age‐Resolved Source and Region Contributions to Fine Particulate Matter During an Extreme Haze Episode in China
Xiaodong Xie, Zhihao Shi, Qi Ying, Hongliang Zhang, Jianlin Hu
Abstract
Abstract A source‐ and age‐resolved algorithm (SARA) was developed in the CMAQ model and applied to study the sources and ages of primary fine particulate matter (PPM) and secondary inorganic aerosols (SNA) in China during January 2013. Residential and industry are the major contributors to PPM and sulfate, especially for fresh particles. The contributions of power increase with age, accounting for 25% and 51% of aged sulfate and nitrate (>48 hr), respectively. Local emissions and intra‐regional transport with younger age contribute to over 70% of PPM and SNA in Beijing, while long‐range transport from northern China with older age becomes more significant in Shanghai. On pollution days, the ages of PPM and SNA consistently increase, suggesting enhanced contributions from regional transport. This study highlights that the age‐specific particle source and region information produced by our SARA algorithm can help design cost‐effective emission control strategies to reduce extreme haze pollution.