Vertical distributions of VOCs in the Tibetan Plateau background region

Exploring the vertical variation in volatile organic compounds(VOCs)in background regions can provide infor-mation on the spatial distribution of pollutants,providing a scientific basis for atmospheric pollution prevention and control strategies.From 15 August to 5 September 2023,at the Southeast Tibet Mountain Comprehensive Environmental Observation Station(SETS),a tethered balloon was used to sample VOCs every 100 m from the ground to 1000 m.A total of 403 air bag samples were collected,and 39 vertical profiles of VOCs were obtained.Ninety-two VOC species were detected.The VOC concentration at the SETS did not change significantly verti-cally,and the average VOC concentration was 11.1±2.4 ppbv.The main components were alkanes(51.4%),alkenes(18.7%),and halohydrocarbons(18.1%).There was no obvious diurnal change in VOCs and no signif-icant difference between the different layers.When the surface VOC concentration was less than 10 ppbv,the concentrations,components,and sources of VOCs were evenly distributed vertically,and the main sources of VOCs at different heights were vehicle exhaust and background.When the surface VOC concentration exceeded 10 ppbv,the VOC concentration gradually decreased with height.The proportion of alkanes in surface VOCs in-creased,and the source was mainly vehicle exhaust.This study confirmed that VOCs are vertically homogeneous in the background of the Tibetan Plateau,emphasizing the importance of vehicle emissions as a potential source of VOCs.

Vertical Evolution of Boundary Layer Volatile Organic Compounds in Summer over the North China Plain and the Differences with Winter

The vertical observation of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)is an important means to clarify the mechanisms of ozone formation.To explore the vertical evolution of VOCs in summer,a field campaign using a tethered balloon during summer photochemical pollution was conducted in Shijiazhuang from 8 June to 3 July 2019.A total of 192 samples were collected,23 vertical profiles were obtained,and the concentrations of 87 VOCs were measured.The range of the total VOC concentration was 41-48 ppbv below 600 m.It then slightly increased above 600 m,and rose to 58±52 ppbv at 1000 m.The proportion of alkanes increased with height,while the proportions of alkenes,halohydrocarbons and acetylene decreased.The proportion of aromatics remained almost unchanged.A comparison with the results of a winter field campaign during 8-16 January 2019 showed that the concentrations of all VOCs in winter except for halohydrocarbons were more than twice those in summer.Alkanes accounted for the same proportion in winter and summer.Alkenes,aromatics,and acetylene accounted for higher proportions in winter,while halohydrocarbons accounted for a higher proportion in summer.There were five VOC sources in the vertical direction.The proportions of gasoline vehicular emissions+industrial sources and coal burning were higher in winter.The proportions of biogenic sources+long-range transport,solvent usage,and diesel vehicular emissions were higher in summer.From the surface to 1000 m,the proportion of gasoline vehicular emissions+industrial sources gradually increased.

Evaluation and Evolution of MAX-DOAS-observed Vertical NO_(2) Profiles in Urban Beijing

Multiaxis differential absorption spectroscopy(MAX-DOAS)is a newly developed advanced vertical profile detection method,but the vertical nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))profiles measured by MAX-DOAS have not yet been fully verified.In this study,we perform MAX-DOAS and tower gradient observations to simultaneously acquire tropospheric NO_(2)observations in the Beijing urban area from 1 April to 31 May 2019.The average values of the tropospheric NO_(2)vertical column densities measured by MAX-DOAS and the tropospheric monitoring instrument are 15.8×1015 and 12.4×1015 molecules cm−2,respectively,and the correlation coefficient R reaches 0.87.The MAX-DOAS measurements are highly consistent with the tower-based in situ measurements,and the correlation coefficients R from the ground to the upper air are 0.89(60 m),0.87(160 m),and 0.76(280 m).MAX-DOAS accurately measures the trend of NO_(2)vertical profile changes,although a large underestimation occurs by a factor of two.By analyzing the NO_(2)vertical profile,the NO_(2)concentration reveals an exponential decrease with height.The NO_(2)vertical profile also coincides with the evolution of the boundary layer height.The study shows that the NO_(2)over Beijing mainly originates from local sources and occurs in the boundary layer,and its vertical evolution pattern has an important guiding significance to better understand nitrate production and ozone pollution.