Chapter 6
Contribution of Atmospheric Reactive
Nitrogen to Haze Pollution in China
Yuepeng Pan, Yang Zeng, Shili Tian, Qianqian Zhang, and Xiaying Zhu
Abstract Reactive nitrogen (Nr) plays a significant role in atmospheric chemistry
and is closely related to environmental and climate change. For example, ammonia,
amines, and nitrogen oxides are involved in aerosol formation and have significant
environmental implications, including regional haze pollution, acid deposition, and
eutrophication. In addition, nitrate and ammonium are major compounds of atmospheric particulate matter, contributing approximately one-third of PM 2.5 . Although
the concentration of amines in the atmosphere is probably two or three orders of
magnitude lower than that of ammonia, amines can significantly assist the growth of
both neutral and ionic clusters. The goal of this chapter is to exhibit the role of Nr in
haze pollution and the importance of Nr mitigation measures. This chapter first
introduces the mechanisms of haze formation related to atmospheric Nr and then
discusses the contribution of Nr to PM 2.5 pollution across China. Ultimately, the
effects of Nr mitigation on PM 2.5 pollution are evaluated, and possible measures that
could be taken in the future are provided.
6.1 Introduction
China has experienced extremely severe regional haze pollution since the late 1990s
(Chameides et al. 1999). According to monitoring data from the 615 meteorological
stations in China, 71% of these stations reported a reduction in visibility of
Y. Pan (*) · S. Tian
State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry
(LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
e-mail: panyuepeng@mail.iap.ac.cn
Y. Zeng
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
Q. Zhang
National Satellite Meteorological Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
X. Zhu
National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Liu, E. Du (eds.), Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen in China,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8514-8_6
113
Contribution of Atmospheric Reactive
Nitrogen to Haze Pollution in China
Yuepeng Pan, Yang Zeng, Shili Tian, Qianqian Zhang, and Xiaying Zhu
Abstract Reactive nitrogen (Nr) plays a significant role in atmospheric chemistry
and is closely related to environmental and climate change. For example, ammonia,
amines, and nitrogen oxides are involved in aerosol formation and have significant
environmental implications, including regional haze pollution, acid deposition, and
eutrophication. In addition, nitrate and ammonium are major compounds of atmospheric particulate matter, contributing approximately one-third of PM 2.5 . Although
the concentration of amines in the atmosphere is probably two or three orders of
magnitude lower than that of ammonia, amines can significantly assist the growth of
both neutral and ionic clusters. The goal of this chapter is to exhibit the role of Nr in
haze pollution and the importance of Nr mitigation measures. This chapter first
introduces the mechanisms of haze formation related to atmospheric Nr and then
discusses the contribution of Nr to PM 2.5 pollution across China. Ultimately, the
effects of Nr mitigation on PM 2.5 pollution are evaluated, and possible measures that
could be taken in the future are provided.
6.1 Introduction
China has experienced extremely severe regional haze pollution since the late 1990s
(Chameides et al. 1999). According to monitoring data from the 615 meteorological
stations in China, 71% of these stations reported a reduction in visibility of
Y. Pan (*) · S. Tian
State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry
(LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
e-mail: panyuepeng@mail.iap.ac.cn
Y. Zeng
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
Q. Zhang
National Satellite Meteorological Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
X. Zhu
National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Liu, E. Du (eds.), Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen in China,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8514-8_6
113