A modeling study of source–receptor relationships in atmospheric particulate matter over Northeast Asia

The source–receptor relationships (S–R relationships) of PM10 in Northeast Asia were investigated by a three-dimensional regional chemical transport model with emission and meteorological fields in 2010. A model comparison with ground-based measurements, and satellite and lidar remote sensing data showed that the model reproduced well the spatial and temporal distribution of PM10 over Northeast Asia, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.50 to 0.94 and normalized mean errors (NMEs) of 10–70% at eleven stations. An on-line tracer-tagged module incorporated into the model indicated that self-contribution contributed the greatest percentage of surface PM10 in China, the Korean peninsula and Japan, reaching 48.5%, 41.8% and 39.1%, respectively. The long-range transport from China and offshore along the Asian continent (Bohai bay, China East Sea, China Huang Sea, the Sea of Japan etc.) constituted the second and third major contributing sources in Korea and Japan (13–26%). The naturally produced dust aerosols also contributed significant percentages, averaging 46.5%, 11.7% and 11.0% in China, the Korean peninsula and Japan, respectively. These S–R relationships of PM10 showed high seasonal variability over Northeast Asia. Significant transport was found between city clusters in China, presenting a major challenge to policy makers since most current remediation efforts are confined within one city cluster.