Significant effects of transport on nanoparticles during new particle formation events in the atmosphere of Beijing

To deepen the understanding of how the “polluted” NPF events occur, a one-month comprehensive measurement was conducted in the atmosphere of Beijing during the summer of 2016. The “clean” NPF events (frequency=22%) (condensation sink, CS<0.015 s–1) were found to be caused by local nucleation and growth.

The “polluted” NPF events (frequency=28%) (CS>0.015 s–1) were influenced by both local nucleation-growth and regional transport, and the contributions from the two factors to 6–25 nm particle number concentration were 60% and 40%, respectively. This study emphasized the importance of the transport for nanoparticles in relatively polluted atmospheres, and for that the regional joint particle pollution control would be an essential policy.