East Asian SOsub2/sub pollution plume over Europe – Part 1: Airborne trace gas measurements and source identification by particle dispersion model simulations

摘要

A large SO₂-rich pollution plume of East Asian origin was detected by aircraft based CIMS (Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry)measurements at 3–7.5 km altitude over the North Atlantic. The measurements, which took place on 3 May 2006 aboard of the Germanresearch aircraft Falcon, were part of the INTEX-B (Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment-B)campaign. Additional trace gases (NO, NO_y, CO, H₂O) were measured and used for comparison and source identification. Theatmospheric SO₂ mole fraction was markedly increased inside the plume and reached up to 900 pmol/mol. Accompanying lagrangianFLEXPART particle dispersion model simulations indicate that the probed pollution plume originated at low altitudes from denselypopulated and industrialized regions of East Asia, primarily China, about 8–12 days prior to the measurements.