Coupling and mitigation of atmospheric ozone and PM in the Chinese Yangtze River Delta (PMO3-YRD)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hartmut Herrmann
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 448587068

In the densely populated Chinese Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, the concentration of PM2.5 has declined over the past decades, while the ozone (O3) pollution has deteriorated and these two opposite trends might be coupled to each other. However, the coupled formation mechanisms have not often been studied yet, and their regulation principles are not specific. In this study, spatially distributed observational data from the YRD will be will be analysed and complemented by an intensive measurement campaign studying gas- and particle phase pollutants in great detail. The observational data will be deeply analysed and used for numerical modelling to allow for detailed insides into sources, formation pathways and interlinkages of O3 and PM2.5 in the YRD region.Based on both the observational and modelling results, the overall project goals are (i) to determine the key meteorological and chemical conditions leading to O3 and PM2.5 pollution over the YRD, (ii) to quantitatively describe the relationship between enhancement of O3 pollution and decline of PM2.5, and (iii) to develop strategies for a combined mitigation of O3 and PM2.5 in the YRD region.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Xiang Li