Journal Article

Vertical Profiles of Volatile Organic Compounds in Suburban Shanghai

Zhou, Ming, Li, Xiaobing, Peng, Zhong-Ren, Wang, Hongli, Li, Shule, Gao, Yaqin, Chen, Junhui, Qu, Kun, Wang, Qian, Liu, Yusi, Lou, Shenrong, Lu, Keding, Jing, Shengao, Liu, Yuhan, Qiu, Wanyi

2021

Overview

As Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are one of the precursors of ozone, their distribution and variable concentrations are highly related to local ozone pollution control. In this study, we obtained vertical profiles of VOCs in Shanghai’s Jinshan district on 8 September and 9 September in 2016 to investigate their distribution and impact on local atmospheric oxidation in the near surface layer. Vertical samples were collected from heights between 50 m and 400 m by summa canisters using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Concentrations of VOCs (VOCs refers to the 52 species measured in this study) varied minimally below 200 m, and decreased by 21.2% from 100 m to 400 m. The concentrations of VOCs above 200 m decreased significantly in comparison to those below 200 m. The proportions of alkanes and aromatics increased from 55.2% and 30.5% to 57.3% and 33.0%, respectively. Additionally, the proportion of alkenes decreased from 13.2% to 8.4%. Toluene and m/p -xylene were the key species in the formation of SOA and ozone. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the VOCs measured in this study mainly originated from industrial emissions.

• Publisher: Science Press,Springer Nature B.V,State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control,College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering,Peking University,Beijing 100871,China%State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex,Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences,Shanghai 200233,China%State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather&Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of China Meteorology Administration,Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences,Beijing 100081,China%Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality,Institute for Environmental and Climate Research,Jinan University,Guangzhou 510632,China%International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design,College of Design,Construction and Planning,University of Florida,Gainesville 32611,FL,USA%Sichuan Academy of Environmental Science,Sichuan 610041,China
• Subject: Alkanes / Alkenes / Aromatic compounds / Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity / Atmospheric Sciences / Control / Distribution / Dominant species / Earth and Environmental Science / Earth Sciences / Formation Mechanisms / Geophysics/Geodesy / Industrial emissions / Meteorology / Organic compounds / Original Paper / Oxidation / Ozone / p-Xylene / PM2.5 Pollution: Quantification Methods / Pollution control / Principal components analysis / Simulation / Surface boundary layer / Surface layers / Toluene / Unmanned aerial vehicles / Vertical profiles / VOCs / Volatile organic compounds / Xylene