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Changes in atmospheric composition during the 2014 APEC conference in Beijing
Author(s) -
Wang Zhanshan,
Li Yunting,
Chen Tian,
Li Lingjun,
Liu Baoxian,
Zhang Dawei,
Sun Feng,
Wei Qiang,
Jiang Lei,
Pan Libo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2015jd023652
Subject(s) - beijing , pollutant , air pollutants , environmental science , sulfate , nitrate , aerosol , environmental chemistry , chemistry , zoology , air pollution , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , geography , china , biology , archaeology , organic chemistry , geology
Five sites were selected to investigate the impact of regional‐scale air pollutant control strategies during the Asia‐Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference (1–12 November 2014) in and around Beijing. Concentrations of most of the air pollutants in the APEC period were significantly lower than those in the adjacent time period, especially when the enhanced reduction measures were implemented. Compared with the same time period in the previous 5 years (PM 2.5 was compared with the last year), average concentrations of SO 2 , NO 2 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 in the five sites during the APEC period decreased by 62%, 41%, 36%, and 47% respectively, whereas average concentration of O 3 increased by 102%. A possible cause of the increase of O 3 concentrations is the stricter reduction measure on NO x compared to that applied to volatile organic compounds. Compared with the non‐APEC period in autumn 2014, concentrations of most of the chemical compositions of PM 2.5 decreased significantly in the APEC period, especially SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , and NH 4 + (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium). The aerosol optical depth and the columnar NO 2 in the area of 39.5°–40.5°N, 116°–117°E showed a changing pattern similar to the typical gas pattern. The net effectiveness of the emission reduction measures was calculated through a comparison of concentrations of air pollutants under similar meteorological conditions. Through the reduction measures imposed during the APEC period, concentrations of CO, SO 2 , NO, NO 2 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 decreased by 54%, 74%, 64%, 48%, 67%, and 65%, respectively, whereas concentrations of O 3 increased by 189%.