Insights into characteristics and formation mechanisms of secondary organic aerosols in the Guangzhou urban area

Emission controls have substantially brought down aerosol pollution in China; however, aerosol mass reductions have slowed down in recent years in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, where secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation poses a major challenge for air quality improvement. In this study, we characterized the roles of SOA in haze formation in urban Guangzhou in the PRD using year-long aerosol mass spectrometer measurements for the first time and discussed possible pathways of SOA formations. On average, organic aerosols (OA) contribute dominantly (50 %) to nonrefractory submicron aerosol mass (NR-PM1). The average mass concentration of SOA (including by less- and more-oxidized OA, LOOA and MOOA) contributed most to NR-PM1, reaching about 1.7 times that of primary organic aerosols (POA, including hydrocarbon-like and cooking-related OA) and accounting for 32 % of NR-PM1, even more than sulfate (22 %) and nitrate (16 %). Seasonal variations of NR-PM1 revealed that haze-formation mechanisms differed much among distinct seasons. Sulfate mattered more than nitrate in fall, while nitrate was more important than sulfate in spring and winter, with SOA contributing significantly to haze formations in all the seasons. Daytime SOA formation was weak in winter under low oxidant levels and air relative humidity, whereas prominent daytime SOA formation was observed in fall, spring and summer almost on a daily basis, suggesting important roles of photochemistry in SOA formations. Further analysis showed that the coordination of gas-phase photochemistry and subsequent aqueous-phase reactions likely played significant roles in quick daytime SOA formations. Obvious nighttime SOA formations were also frequently observed in spring, fall and winter, and it was found that daytime and nighttime SOA formations together had resulted in the highest SOA concentrations in these seasons and contributed substantially to severe haze formations. Simultaneous increases in nitrate with SOA after sunset suggested the important roles of NO3 radical chemistry in nighttime SOA formations, and this was further confirmed by a continuous increase in the NO+ / NO2+ fragment ratio that related to measured particulate nitrate after sunset. The findings of this study have promoted our understanding of haze pollution characteristics of the PRD and laid down future directions for investigations of SOA-formation mechanisms in urban areas of southern China that share similar emission sources and meteorological conditions.

Automated summary

Emission controls have reduced aerosol pollution in China, but aerosol mass reductions have slowed down in recent years in the Pearl River Delta region due to the challenge of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. This study investigated the role of SOA in haze formation in urban Guangzhou, finding that organic aerosols dominantly contributed to aerosol mass and SOA contributed significantly to haze formations in all seasons. Daytime and nighttime SOA formations, along with nitrate chemistry, were found to be important factors in severe haze formations. These findings contribute to our understanding of haze pollution characteristics and future investigations of SOA formation mechanisms.