Investigation of factors controlling PM2.5 variability across the South Korean Peninsula during KORUS-AQ

Carolyn E. Jordan; James H. Crawford; Andreas J. Beyersdorf; Thomas F. Eck; Hannah S. Halliday; Benjamin A. Nault; Lim Seok Chang; Jin Soo Park; Rokjin Park; Gangwoong Lee; Hwajin Kim; Jun Young Ahn; Seogju Cho; Hye Jung Shin; Jae Hong Lee; Jinsang Jung; Deug Soo Kim; Meehye Lee; Taehyoung Lee; Andrew Whitehill; James Szykman; Melinda K. Schueneman; Pedro Campuzano-Jost; Jose L. Jimenez; Joshua P. DiGangi; Glenn S. Diskin; Bruce E. Anderson; Richard H. Moore; Luke D. Ziemba; Marta A. Fenn; Johnathan W. Hair; Ralph E. Kuehn; Robert E. Holz; Gao Chen; Katherine Travis; Michael Shook; David A. Peterson; Kara D. Lamb; Joshua P. Schwarz

doi:10.1525/elementa.424

Investigation of factors controlling PM_2.5 variability across the South Korean Peninsula during KORUS-AQ

Carolyn E. Jordan, James H. Crawford, Andreas J. Beyersdorf, Thomas F. Eck, Hannah S. Halliday, Benjamin A. Nault, Lim Seok Chang, Jin Soo Park, Rokjin Park, Gangwoong Lee, Hwajin Kim, Jun Young Ahn, Seogju Cho, Hye Jung Shin, Jae Hong Lee, Jinsang Jung, Deug Soo Kim, Meehye Lee, Taehyoung Lee, Andrew WhitehillJames Szykman, Melinda K. Schueneman, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Jose L. Jimenez, Joshua P. DiGangi, Glenn S. Diskin, Bruce E. Anderson, Richard H. Moore, Luke D. Ziemba, Marta A. Fenn, Johnathan W. Hair, Ralph E. Kuehn, Robert E. Holz, Gao Chen, Katherine Travis, Michael Shook, David A. Peterson, Kara D. Lamb, Joshua P. Schwarz

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Korea - United States Air Quality Study (May - June 2016) deployed instrumented aircraft and ground-based measurements to elucidate causes of poor air quality related to high ozone and aerosol concentrations in South Korea. This work synthesizes data pertaining to aerosols (specifically, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 micrometers, PM_2.5) and conditions leading to violations of South Korean air quality standards (24-hr mean PM_2.5 < 35 µg m^-3). PM_2.5 variability from AirKorea monitors across South Korea is evaluated. Detailed data from the Seoul vicinity are used to interpret factors that contribute to elevated PM_2.5. The interplay between meteorology and surface aerosols, contrasting synoptic-scale behavior vs. local influences, is presented. Transboundary transport from upwind sources, vertical mixing and containment of aerosols, and local production of secondary aerosols are discussed. Two meteorological periods are probed for drivers of elevated PM_2.5. Clear, dry conditions, with limited transport (Stagnant period), promoted photochemical production of secondary organic aerosol from locally emitted precursors. Cloudy humid conditions fostered rapid heterogeneous secondary inorganic aerosol production from local and transported emissions (Transport/Haze period), likely driven by a positive feedback mechanism where water uptake by aerosols increased gas-to-particle partitioning that increased water uptake. Further, clouds reduced solar insolation, suppressing mixing, exacerbating PM_2.5 accumulation in a shallow boundary layer. The combination of factors contributing to enhanced PM_2.5 is challenging to model, complicating quantification of contributions to PM_2.5 from local versus upwind precursors and production. We recommend co-locating additional continuous measurements at a few AirKorea sites across South Korea to help resolve this and other outstanding questions: carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide (transboundary transport tracer), boundary layer height (surface PM_2.5 mixing depth), and aerosol composition with aerosol liquid water (meteorologically-dependent secondary production). These data would aid future research to refine emissions targets to further improve South Korean PM_2.5 air quality.

Original language	English
Article number	28
Journal	Elementa
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.424
Publication status	Published - 2020 Jul 1

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Keywords

Aerosols
Air quality
KORUS-AQ
PM
South Korea

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Environmental Engineering
Ecology
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Geology
Atmospheric Science

Access to Document

10.1525/elementa.424

Cite this

Jordan, C. E., Crawford, J. H., Beyersdorf, A. J., Eck, T. F., Halliday, H. S., Nault, B. A., Chang, L. S., Park, J. S., Park, R., Lee, G., Kim, H., Ahn, J. Y., Cho, S., Shin, H. J., Lee, J. H., Jung, J., Kim, D. S., Lee, M., Lee, T., ... Schwarz, J. P. (2020). Investigation of factors controlling PM_2.5 variability across the South Korean Peninsula during KORUS-AQ. Elementa, 8, Article 28. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.424

Jordan, CE, Crawford, JH, Beyersdorf, AJ, Eck, TF, Halliday, HS, Nault, BA, Chang, LS, Park, JS, Park, R, Lee, G, Kim, H, Ahn, JY, Cho, S, Shin, HJ, Lee, JH, Jung, J, Kim, DS, Lee, M, Lee, T, Whitehill, A, Szykman, J, Schueneman, MK, Campuzano-Jost, P, Jimenez, JL, DiGangi, JP, Diskin, GS, Anderson, BE, Moore, RH, Ziemba, LD, Fenn, MA, Hair, JW, Kuehn, RE, Holz, RE, Chen, G, Travis, K, Shook, M, Peterson, DA, Lamb, KD & Schwarz, JP 2020, 'Investigation of factors controlling PM_2.5 variability across the South Korean Peninsula during KORUS-AQ', Elementa, vol. 8, 28. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.424

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title = "Investigation of factors controlling PM2.5 variability across the South Korean Peninsula during KORUS-AQ",

abstract = "The Korea - United States Air Quality Study (May - June 2016) deployed instrumented aircraft and ground-based measurements to elucidate causes of poor air quality related to high ozone and aerosol concentrations in South Korea. This work synthesizes data pertaining to aerosols (specifically, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 micrometers, PM2.5) and conditions leading to violations of South Korean air quality standards (24-hr mean PM2.5 < 35 µg m-3). PM2.5 variability from AirKorea monitors across South Korea is evaluated. Detailed data from the Seoul vicinity are used to interpret factors that contribute to elevated PM2.5. The interplay between meteorology and surface aerosols, contrasting synoptic-scale behavior vs. local influences, is presented. Transboundary transport from upwind sources, vertical mixing and containment of aerosols, and local production of secondary aerosols are discussed. Two meteorological periods are probed for drivers of elevated PM2.5. Clear, dry conditions, with limited transport (Stagnant period), promoted photochemical production of secondary organic aerosol from locally emitted precursors. Cloudy humid conditions fostered rapid heterogeneous secondary inorganic aerosol production from local and transported emissions (Transport/Haze period), likely driven by a positive feedback mechanism where water uptake by aerosols increased gas-to-particle partitioning that increased water uptake. Further, clouds reduced solar insolation, suppressing mixing, exacerbating PM2.5 accumulation in a shallow boundary layer. The combination of factors contributing to enhanced PM2.5 is challenging to model, complicating quantification of contributions to PM2.5 from local versus upwind precursors and production. We recommend co-locating additional continuous measurements at a few AirKorea sites across South Korea to help resolve this and other outstanding questions: carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide (transboundary transport tracer), boundary layer height (surface PM2.5 mixing depth), and aerosol composition with aerosol liquid water (meteorologically-dependent secondary production). These data would aid future research to refine emissions targets to further improve South Korean PM2.5 air quality.",

keywords = "Aerosols, Air quality, KORUS-AQ, PM, South Korea",

author = "Jordan, {Carolyn E.} and Crawford, {James H.} and Beyersdorf, {Andreas J.} and Eck, {Thomas F.} and Halliday, {Hannah S.} and Nault, {Benjamin A.} and Chang, {Lim Seok} and Park, {Jin Soo} and Rokjin Park and Gangwoong Lee and Hwajin Kim and Ahn, {Jun Young} and Seogju Cho and Shin, {Hye Jung} and Lee, {Jae Hong} and Jinsang Jung and Kim, {Deug Soo} and Meehye Lee and Taehyoung Lee and Andrew Whitehill and James Szykman and Schueneman, {Melinda K.} and Pedro Campuzano-Jost and Jimenez, {Jose L.} and DiGangi, {Joshua P.} and Diskin, {Glenn S.} and Anderson, {Bruce E.} and Moore, {Richard H.} and Ziemba, {Luke D.} and Fenn, {Marta A.} and Hair, {Johnathan W.} and Kuehn, {Ralph E.} and Holz, {Robert E.} and Gao Chen and Katherine Travis and Michael Shook and Peterson, {David A.} and Lamb, {Kara D.} and Schwarz, {Joshua P.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.",

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AU - Jordan, Carolyn E.

AU - Crawford, James H.

AU - Beyersdorf, Andreas J.

AU - Eck, Thomas F.

AU - Halliday, Hannah S.

AU - Nault, Benjamin A.

AU - Chang, Lim Seok

AU - Park, Jin Soo

AU - Park, Rokjin

AU - Lee, Gangwoong

AU - Kim, Hwajin

AU - Ahn, Jun Young

AU - Cho, Seogju

AU - Shin, Hye Jung

AU - Lee, Jae Hong

AU - Jung, Jinsang

AU - Kim, Deug Soo

AU - Lee, Meehye

AU - Lee, Taehyoung

AU - Whitehill, Andrew

AU - Szykman, James

AU - Schueneman, Melinda K.

AU - Campuzano-Jost, Pedro

AU - Jimenez, Jose L.

AU - DiGangi, Joshua P.

AU - Diskin, Glenn S.

AU - Anderson, Bruce E.

AU - Moore, Richard H.

AU - Ziemba, Luke D.

AU - Fenn, Marta A.

AU - Hair, Johnathan W.

AU - Kuehn, Ralph E.

AU - Holz, Robert E.

AU - Chen, Gao

AU - Travis, Katherine

AU - Shook, Michael

AU - Peterson, David A.

AU - Lamb, Kara D.

AU - Schwarz, Joshua P.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

PY - 2020/7/1

Y1 - 2020/7/1

N2 - The Korea - United States Air Quality Study (May - June 2016) deployed instrumented aircraft and ground-based measurements to elucidate causes of poor air quality related to high ozone and aerosol concentrations in South Korea. This work synthesizes data pertaining to aerosols (specifically, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 micrometers, PM2.5) and conditions leading to violations of South Korean air quality standards (24-hr mean PM2.5 < 35 µg m-3). PM2.5 variability from AirKorea monitors across South Korea is evaluated. Detailed data from the Seoul vicinity are used to interpret factors that contribute to elevated PM2.5. The interplay between meteorology and surface aerosols, contrasting synoptic-scale behavior vs. local influences, is presented. Transboundary transport from upwind sources, vertical mixing and containment of aerosols, and local production of secondary aerosols are discussed. Two meteorological periods are probed for drivers of elevated PM2.5. Clear, dry conditions, with limited transport (Stagnant period), promoted photochemical production of secondary organic aerosol from locally emitted precursors. Cloudy humid conditions fostered rapid heterogeneous secondary inorganic aerosol production from local and transported emissions (Transport/Haze period), likely driven by a positive feedback mechanism where water uptake by aerosols increased gas-to-particle partitioning that increased water uptake. Further, clouds reduced solar insolation, suppressing mixing, exacerbating PM2.5 accumulation in a shallow boundary layer. The combination of factors contributing to enhanced PM2.5 is challenging to model, complicating quantification of contributions to PM2.5 from local versus upwind precursors and production. We recommend co-locating additional continuous measurements at a few AirKorea sites across South Korea to help resolve this and other outstanding questions: carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide (transboundary transport tracer), boundary layer height (surface PM2.5 mixing depth), and aerosol composition with aerosol liquid water (meteorologically-dependent secondary production). These data would aid future research to refine emissions targets to further improve South Korean PM2.5 air quality.

AB - The Korea - United States Air Quality Study (May - June 2016) deployed instrumented aircraft and ground-based measurements to elucidate causes of poor air quality related to high ozone and aerosol concentrations in South Korea. This work synthesizes data pertaining to aerosols (specifically, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 micrometers, PM2.5) and conditions leading to violations of South Korean air quality standards (24-hr mean PM2.5 < 35 µg m-3). PM2.5 variability from AirKorea monitors across South Korea is evaluated. Detailed data from the Seoul vicinity are used to interpret factors that contribute to elevated PM2.5. The interplay between meteorology and surface aerosols, contrasting synoptic-scale behavior vs. local influences, is presented. Transboundary transport from upwind sources, vertical mixing and containment of aerosols, and local production of secondary aerosols are discussed. Two meteorological periods are probed for drivers of elevated PM2.5. Clear, dry conditions, with limited transport (Stagnant period), promoted photochemical production of secondary organic aerosol from locally emitted precursors. Cloudy humid conditions fostered rapid heterogeneous secondary inorganic aerosol production from local and transported emissions (Transport/Haze period), likely driven by a positive feedback mechanism where water uptake by aerosols increased gas-to-particle partitioning that increased water uptake. Further, clouds reduced solar insolation, suppressing mixing, exacerbating PM2.5 accumulation in a shallow boundary layer. The combination of factors contributing to enhanced PM2.5 is challenging to model, complicating quantification of contributions to PM2.5 from local versus upwind precursors and production. We recommend co-locating additional continuous measurements at a few AirKorea sites across South Korea to help resolve this and other outstanding questions: carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide (transboundary transport tracer), boundary layer height (surface PM2.5 mixing depth), and aerosol composition with aerosol liquid water (meteorologically-dependent secondary production). These data would aid future research to refine emissions targets to further improve South Korean PM2.5 air quality.

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KW - South Korea

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