Inter-linked Aerosol and Climate Variations in Hong Kong and South China
Principal Investigator: Prof. Wu Renguang
| Start Date: | 2012/03/01 |
| End Date: | 2014/02/28 |
| Type of Grant: | Direct Grant |
The sustainable development of industry and economics in the Pearl River Delta region and the rapid growth of population in Hong Kong and South China exert more and more pressure on the environment. One critical environmental issue is air quality, which is directly related to peopleˇ¦s health. Thus, understanding the variability of atmospheric aerosols and the factors and processes contributing to the aerosol variations is of great significance.
As Hong Kong lies on the coast of South China, the air quality in Hong Kong may be related to aerosol variations in South China through the transport of aerosol particles by atmospheric winds. This relation may vary with season following the seasonal change in monsoonal winds. The inter-relationship between air quality changes in Hong Kong and aerosol variations in South China is an issue that will become more and more important due to the increasing connection between Hong Kong and South Chinaˇ¦s economic development.
The aerosol-climate connection is complex, including many dynamical, physical, and chemical processes. Aerosol can lead to changes in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics by modulating the transfer of solar radiation in the atmosphere. Precipitation can flush out aerosols and atmospheric circulation can lead to transport and accumulation of aerosols. There could be different types of relationships between aerosol and cloud/precipitation variations. Delineating the inter-relationships between aerosol and regional climate change is of great interest to both climate scientists and the public.
The objective of this project is to investigate the inter-linked variations of air quality and aerosol in Hong Kong and South China and its relationship to climate change in the Pearl River Delta region. The key issues to be addressed include: 1) The variability of atmospheric aerosols in South China; 2) Relationship between Hong Kong air quality and South China aerosol variations; 3) Relationship between aerosol and regional climate change in the Pearl River Delta region.
The proposed research is expected to have the following outcomes:
1) Illustrate the spatial-temporal characteristics of interannual variations of aerosols around South China; 2) Reveal specific atmospheric states leading to inter-related air quality and aerosol variations between Hong Kong and South China; 3) Delineate different types of aerosol-cloud-precipitation relationship in the Pearl River Delta region.