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The Occurrence of Heavy Air Pollution during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Beijing, China: Roles of Emission Reduction, Meteorological Conditions, and Regional Transport

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao Yan

    (National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Aijun Shi

    (Beijing Vehicle Emission Management Center, Beijing 100176, China)

  • Jingyuan Cao

    (College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Tingting Li

    (National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Xuesong Sun

    (National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Rui Zhang

    (National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Xionghui Qiu

    (Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
    State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Yanxue Li

    (State Grid Integrated Energy Planning, Design and Research Institute, Beijing 100052, China)

  • Miao Liang

    (Meteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Miao Lv

    (CEPEC Talroad Technology CO., Ltd, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Chunlan Liu

    (National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Jing Wei

    (Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Iowa Technology Institute, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

Abstract

To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and mitigate the epidemic risk, strict lockdown measures were implemented in Beijing during the quarantine period, significantly reducing human activities. However, severe air pollution episodes occurred frequently in Beijing. To explore the occurrence of severe air pollution during the quarantine period, the impacts of emission reductions, meteorological conditions, and regional transport on heavy air pollution were individually evaluated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Observations showed that the more unfavorable meteorological conditions which occurred during the pandemic as compared to the corresponding 2019 levels, including higher temperature, relative humidity, and frequency of strong southerly winds, and lower HPBL, led to an increase in PM 2.5 concentrations. The model results also showed that the meteorological conditions in February 2020 favored PM 2.5 formation. The PM 2.5 concentrations were mainly dominated by regional transport, which became more significant in the quarantine period than in 2019, suggesting the importance of joint control on regional sources for reducing heavy air pollution. This study highlights that, although the emissions in Beijing and surrounding regions were largely reduced during the quarantine period, severe air pollution in Beijing did not reduce due to the unfavorable meteorological conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao Yan & Aijun Shi & Jingyuan Cao & Tingting Li & Xuesong Sun & Rui Zhang & Xionghui Qiu & Yanxue Li & Miao Liang & Miao Lv & Chunlan Liu & Jing Wei, 2021. "The Occurrence of Heavy Air Pollution during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Beijing, China: Roles of Emission Reduction, Meteorological Conditions, and Regional Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12312-:d:674330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Corinne Le Quéré & Robert B. Jackson & Matthew W. Jones & Adam J. P. Smith & Sam Abernethy & Robbie M. Andrew & Anthony J. De-Gol & David R. Willis & Yuli Shan & Josep G. Canadell & Pierre Friedlingst, 2020. "Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(7), pages 647-653, July.
    2. Quirin Schiermeier, 2020. "Why pollution is plummeting in some cities — but not others," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7803), pages 313-313, April.
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    1. Haixia Feng & Zhouhao Wu & Xin Li & Huacai Xian & Qiang Jia & Xingyu Wang & Maoxin Zhu, 2023. "Effect of Transportation Operation on Air Quality in China Based on MODIS AOD during the Epidemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.

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