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COVID‐19 Impact on the Concentration and Composition of Submicron Particulate Matter in a Typical City of Northwest China
Author(s) -
Xu Jianzhong,
Ge Xinlei,
Zhang Xinghua,
Zhao Wenhui,
Zhang Ruixiong,
Zhang Yuzhong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl089035
Subject(s) - particulates , aerosol , mass concentration (chemistry) , environmental science , environmental chemistry , air quality index , sulfate , nitrate , ammonium sulfate , chemical composition , atmospheric sciences , chemistry , meteorology , geography , geology , organic chemistry , chromatography
Abstract In this study, we evaluated the variations of air quality in Lanzhou, a typical city in Northwestern China impacted by the COVID‐19 lockdown. The mass concentration and chemical composition of non‐refractory submicron particulate matter (NR‐PM 1 ) were determined by a high‐resolution aerosol mass spectrometer during January‐March 2020. The concentration of NR‐PM 1 dropped by 50% from before to during control period. The five aerosol components (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride, and organic aerosol [OA]) all decreased during the control period with the biggest decrease observed for secondary inorganic species (70% of the total reduction). Though the mass concentration of OA decreased during the control period, its source emissions varied differently. OA from coal and biomass burning remained stable from before to during control period, while traffic and cooking related emissions were reduced by 25% and 50%, respectively. The low concentration during the control period was attributed to the lower production rate for secondary aerosols.