Regional Integrated Experiments on Air Quality over Pearl River Delta 2004 (PRIDE-PRD2004): Overview

The aims of the Program of Regional Integrated Experiments on Air Quality over Pearl River Delta of China 2004 (PRIDE-PRD2004) were to characterize in depth the pollution, and to improve the understanding of the chemical and radiative processes in the atmosphere of Pearl River Delta (PRD) in South-Eastern China. This comprehensive program integrated ground-base in situ measurements, vertical observations (including aircraft) and model simulations. The intensive field campaign was conducted from 4 October to 5 November 2004 at two super-sites: an urban site in Guangzhou city (23.13°N, 113.26°E) and a non-urban site at Xinken (22.61°N, 113.59°E). They were coordinated with concurrent meteorological observations as well as measurements at stations of a regional monitoring network. Quality control and quality assurances, application of closure studies and observation-based modeling were the key elements of the research strategies for the PRIDE-PRD2004 campaign. Knowledge and understanding of the important issues, including 3-D distribution of air pollution, ozone formation process and its control strategies, sources of volatile organic compounds, chemical and physical characteristics and radiative properties of aerosols, and the important role of nitrous acid atmospheric chemistry, have been improved substantially by this study.