June 30, 2022
Journal Article

Fast climate responses to emission reductions in aerosol and ozone precursors in China during 2013–2017

Abstract

China has been implementing a sequence of policies for clean air since the year 2013, and the aerosol pollution has been substantially improved, but ozone (O3)-related issues arose. Here, fast climate responses to emission reductions in aerosol and O3 precursors over China during 2013–2017 are investigated using the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2). The overall decreases in aerosols produced an anomalous warming of 0.09?±?0.10°C in eastern China (22–40°?N, 110–122.5°?E), which is further intensified by the increase in O3 in the lower troposphere, resulting in an enhanced warming of 0.16?±?0.15?°C in eastern China. Reductions in industrial emissions contributed the most to the aerosol-induced warming, while emission reductions from residential sector induced a cooling effect due to a substantial decrease in light-absorbing black carbon aerosols. This implies that switching the residential sector to cleaner energy is more effective to achieve climate and health benefits in China.

Published: June 30, 2022

Citation

Gao J., Y. Yang, H. Wang, P. Wang, H. Li, M. Li, and L. Ren, et al. 2022. Fast climate responses to emission reductions in aerosol and ozone precursors in China during 2013–2017. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22, no. 11:7131–7142. PNNL-SA-174008. doi:10.5194/acp-22-7131-2022