High aerosol loading over the Bohai Sea: Long-term trend, potential sources, and impacts on surrounding cities

Linxuan Li; Xiaohui Bi; Xuehan Wang; Lilai Song; Qili Dai; Baoshuang Liu; Jianhui Wu; Yufen Zhang; Yinchang Feng

Environment International (Jan 2024)

High aerosol loading over the Bohai Sea: Long-term trend, potential sources, and impacts on surrounding cities

Linxuan Li,
Xiaohui Bi,
Xuehan Wang,
Lilai Song,
Qili Dai,
Baoshuang Liu,
Jianhui Wu,
Yufen Zhang,
Yinchang Feng

Affiliations

Linxuan Li: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Xiaohui Bi: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Xuehan Wang: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Lilai Song: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Qili Dai: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Baoshuang Liu: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Jianhui Wu: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Yufen Zhang: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Yinchang Feng: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Meteorological Administration-Nankai University (CMA-NKU) Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Corresponding author at: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 183
p. 108387

Abstract

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Air pollution over the oceans has received less attention compared to densely populated urban areas of continents. The Bohai Sea, a semi-enclosed sea in northern China, is surrounded by thirteen industrial cities that have experienced significant improvements in air quality over the past decade. However, the changes in air pollution over the Bohai Sea and its impacts on surrounding cities remain poorly understood. To address this, this study investigated the evolution of air pollution and its chemical composition in the Bohai Sea over four decades, utilizing satellite remote sensing data, reanalysis datasets, emissions inventories, and statistical modeling. Historically, the region has suffered from severe air pollution, resulting from a combination of continental emissions and marine inputs (e.g., sea salt, ports and maritime vessel activities). The aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the sea was higher than the mean levels observed in its surrounding coastal cities. Statistically, 45% of the air masses reaching the Bohai Sea are associated with natural sources (dust- and marine-rich), while the remainder carry anthropogenic pollutants from continental regions. With the exception of Cangzhou city, these coastal cities suffer from air pollutants originating from the Bohai Sea. Cities in the northern region of the sea, spanning from Tianjin to Yingkou, are particularly impacted. The majority of the surrounding cities are affected by a large proportion of anthropogenic aerosol types transported through air masses from the Bohai Sea, including those from biomass burning and industrial activities. These findings emphasize the considerable influence of human-induced sources in the Bohai Sea on neighboring urban areas. Furthermore, being a maritime region, natural sources like sea salt and dust from the sea may also exert a discernible impact on the neighboring environment.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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