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Regional differences of light absorption properties of fine particulate matter over the Tibetan Plateau: insights from HR-ToF-AMS and Aethalometer measurements
  • +6
  • Jianzhong Xu,
  • Xinghua Zhang,
  • Shichang Kang,
  • Junying Sun,
  • Jinsen Shi,
  • Xinlei Ge,
  • Chongshui Gong,
  • Xuying Sun,
  • Haolin Du
Jianzhong Xu
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xinghua Zhang
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources
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Shichang Kang
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources
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Junying Sun
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jinsen Shi
Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University
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Xinlei Ge
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
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Chongshui Gong
Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration
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Xuying Sun
Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration
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Haolin Du
Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Reducing Disaster of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Arid Climatic Change and Disaster Reduction of CMA, Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration
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Abstract

Tibetan Plateau (TP) has aroused widely scientific concerns in recent decades owning to its important effects on regional climatic and cryospheric changes, hydrological cycle, and environments. However, our understandings on the chemical and optical properties of aerosols are still limited at those regions. In this study, regional difference of aerosol light absorption properties were explored at three remote TP sites, including Qomolangma Station (QOMS) in the southern TP, Nam Co Station (NamCo) in the central TP, and Waliguan Observatory in the northeastern TP. Although aerosol mass concentration at QOMS was less than half of that at Waliguan, the light absorption coefficient at QOMS was nearly 5 time higher than that at Waliguan, mainly as a result of the high contributions of light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols in the southern TP from the long-range transported biomass burning emissions of South Asia. An improved method was used to derive the near-realistic absorption Ångström exponent for pure black carbon (BC) particles. BC dominated the light absorption at all wavelengths, whereas brown carbon (BrC) contributed more than 30% of the light absorption at 370 nm at QOMS and ~ 20% at Waliguan and NamCo. The major contributor to BrC light absorption at QOMS was the biomass burning related organic aerosol. Radiative transfer simulations also showed the highest atmospheric radiative forcings at QOMS among the three campaigns. The significant regional differences of aerosol light absorption properties in the TP might be related tightly with the different aerosol sources and chemical processes.
27 Dec 2021Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres volume 126 issue 24. 10.1029/2021JD035562