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    Original Research Papers

    Integrated studies of a photochemical smog episode in Hong Kong and regional transport in the Pearl River Delta of China

    Authors:

    T. J . Wang ,

    Department of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University; Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, CN
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    K. S. Lam,

    Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, CN
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    M. Xie,

    Department of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, CN
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    X. M. Wang,

    Department of Environmental Science, Zhongshan University, CN
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    G. Carmichael,

    Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, US
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    Y. S. Li

    Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, CN
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    Abstract

    Air pollution in Hong Kong has close relations to synoptic systems, especially continental high pressure in cold season and tropical storms in the warm season. Here, a case study was performed of the characteristics of a photochemical pollution episode during March 27–31, 2000, in which the maximum concentrations of ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) reached 265 μgm-3, 2166 μgm-3 (roadside), 5405 μgm-3, 349.3 μgm-3 and 221 μgm-3, respectively. The O3/CO and O3/NOx ratios were found to be 0.1 and 6.29, respectively, at rural site without significant correlation. At an urban site, moderate negative correlation was observed for O3, CO, NOx, where the ratios of O3/CO and O3/NOx were relatively lower (0.03 and 0.21, respectively). The episode lasted 2 d in the Hong Kong territory and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Synchronous meteorological and air monitoring data were adopted for analysis with focus on concentration variability, weather pattern, mechanisms of local photochemical production and regional transport. Our results indicate that clear skies with high temperature and low humidity caused by the strong high-pressure system over South China as well as local emissions were attributable to the high O3 level observed. In addition, backward trajectories and the O3/NOx, O3/CO ratios provided evidence that regional transport did play an important role in the formation of the episode. The MM5/STEM-2K1 and TAPM model systems were used to simulate the regional and urban O3 pattern in PRD and Hong Kong. The modeling surface concentrations of O3 were compared with the measurement from Hong Kong air quality monitoring network, which showed that the ground O3 level was underestimated 10–20% due to the uncertainty in emission data, simple chemical mechanism as well as MM5 meteorological prediction. Sensitivity study revealed the strong cross-border transport over PRD region, which accounted for 50–90% of the observed O3 level at nighttime and 40–70% at daytime in Hong Kong territory depending on site locations.

    How to Cite: Wang, T.J., Lam, K.S., Xie, M., Wang, X.M., Carmichael, G. and Li, Y.S., 2006. Integrated studies of a photochemical smog episode in Hong Kong and regional transport in the Pearl River Delta of China. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 58(1), pp.31–40. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.2005.00172.x
      Published on 01 Jan 2006
    Peer Reviewed
     CC BY 4.0
     Accepted on 19 Sep 2005            Submitted on 17 Feb 2005

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