Light absorption properties and temporal variations of atmospheric black carbon in Nanjing

XU Yunlong; SHAN Yuanjie; ZHANG Yunjiang; GE Xinlei

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202508010

Volume 43 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

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XU Yunlong, SHAN Yuanjie, ZHANG Yunjiang, GE Xinlei. Light absorption properties and temporal variations of atmospheric black carbon in Nanjing[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 117-128. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508010

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XU Yunlong, SHAN Yuanjie, ZHANG Yunjiang, GE Xinlei. Light absorption properties and temporal variations of atmospheric black carbon in Nanjing[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 117-128. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508010

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Light absorption properties and temporal variations of atmospheric black carbon in Nanjing

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508010

1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China;
2. School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China

Received Date: 2025-05-12
Accepted Date: 2025-07-21
Rev Recd Date: 2025-06-12

Abstract

Abstract

From March 2022 to February 2023， the light absorption coefficients of black carbon （BC） in aerosols were measured using an Aethalometer （AE33） at a northern suburban site of Nanjing. In combination with backward trajectory analysis， potential source contributions， and diurnal variation patterns， the seasonal characteristics of BC were systematically investigated. The results showed that the annual mean BC absorption coefficient at 880 nm was 13.23 Mm^-1， with significant seasonal variations （highest in winter and lowest in summer） and a distinct diurnal pattern （bimodal distribution， aligning with traffic peaks）. At 370 nm， the absorption contribution of brown carbon （BrC） increased significantly in winter （accounting for 38.4%）， while it was lowest in summer （21.4%）. The annual mean aerosol absorption Ångström exponent （AAE） was 1.37 ± 0.19， peaking in winter （1.51 ± 0.20）， indicating increased contributions from biomass burning. Source apportionment analysis revealed that fossil fuel combustion was the primary BC source （68.7%）， but biomass burning contributed significantly in winter （39.9%）. Meteorological analysis suggested that the low temperature， shallow boundary layer， and weak wind facilitated BC accumulation， while relative humidity had a minor influence. Backward trajectory and potential source analyses indicated that BC in summer was influenced by local and regional mixed sources， whereas in spring， autumn， and winter， it was affected by regional transport from surrounding areas. This study provides useful scientific insights for BC pollution control in the Nanjing.
- black carbon,
- light absorption properties,
- source,
- seasonal variations

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References(63)

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