Analysis on the impact of two winter precipitation episodes on PM(2.5) in Beijing

In this paper, the circulation background, the characteristics of meteorological elements configuration in the boundary layer and the stable meteorological conditions in two precipitation episodes (during February 19–21, 2015 and February 10–13, 2016, respectively) within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are compared and analyzed. Data from conventional meteorological observations, air quality monitoring, reanalysis and numerical models are used. The results show that before the two precipitation processes in 2015 and 2016, the circulations in the middle and high latitudes of Asia and Europe demonstrate “two troughs and one ridge”. Besides, the weather is stable and the pollutant concentration is relatively high. During the precipitation, the circulation is relatively stable for the episode in 2015, and no obvious change in the synoptic system is observed. However, during the episode in 2016, the formation of blocking high and the enhancement of the average ridge in western Asia cause obvious change in the circulation. The simulation results show that significant removal can be detected in both cases, and the PM(2.5) wet deposition fluxes are 647 g/ha and 486 g/ha, respectively, with the removal in 2015 slightly stronger than that in 2016. The removal and dissipation of pollutants is determined by the atmospheric diffusion conditions and the precipitation, especially in the former episode. In the case of February 2016, good diffusion conditions and the precipitation demonstrate obvious PM(2.5) removal effect. In the case of February 2015, the longstanding calm wind with high humidity and the physical quantity configuration in the lower mixed layer lead to the poor pollutant removal.