Impact of aerosol actinic radiative effect on ozone during haze pollution in the Pearl River Delta region

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2024-09, Vol.332, p.120610, Article 120610
• Main Authors: Deng, Tao, Ouyang, Shanshan, He, Guowen, Zhang, Xue, Leung, Jeremy Cheuk-Hin, Chen, Xiaoyang, Wang, Qing, Zhang, Zebiao, Zou, Yu, Mai, Boru, Liu, Li, Deng, Xuejiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actinic radiative effect; Aerosol; Haze; Ozone
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120610

Large amounts of aerosol in the atmosphere can cause significant attenuation of photochemical radiation and have a substantial impact on ozone and other secondary pollutants involved in photochemical reactions. This study examines the impact of aerosol actinic radiative effect on ozone and secondary pollutants during typical haze processes in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. The investigation employed lidar data and Weather Research Forecast–Community Multiscale Air Quality (WRF-CMAQ) modeling system. The results revealed that the aerosol caused a significant decrease in ground-level photolysis rates of NO2 and ozone by 22% and 29%, respectively, when haze pollution was severe. The actinic radiative effect of aerosol caused an average reduction of more than 10 ppb in ground level ozone concentration in the PRD, with the core area experiencing a maximum reduction of 30 ppb. Additionally, the core area witnessed a maximum reduction of 2 ppb in peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and 2 μg/m3 in PM2.5. Due to reduced photolysis rates, nitrogen oxides increased by more than 5 ppb on average, reaching up to 10 ppb, while volatile organic compounds (VOCs) increased by a maximum of 10 ppb in the core region. Temporally, the aerosol actinic radiative effect was most pronounced in the morning and less significant in the afternoon. •During severe haze periods, the aerosol reduced the photolysis rates of ground level NO2 and O3 by 22% and 29%, respectively.•Aerosol actinic radiative effect reduced O3 and PM2.5 concentration but increased NOx, VOCs and nitrate in the haze process.•Aerosol actinic radiative effect during haze partially offset the positive feedback formed by its direct radiative effect.