Identification of potential source regions and long-range transport routes/channels of marine PM2.5 at remote sites in East Asia

Abstract

Long-range transport (LRT) of air masses in East Asia and their impacts on marine PM_2.5 were explored. Situated in the leeward region of East Asia, Taiwan Island marked by its elevated Central Mountain Range (CMR) separates air masses into two distinct air currents. This study aims to investigate the transport of PM_2.5 from the north to the leeward region. Six transport routes (A-F) were identified and further classified them into three main channels (i.e. East, West, and South Channels) based on their transport routes and potential sources. Green Island (Site GR) and Hengchun Peninsula (Site HC) exhibited similarities in their transport routes, with Central China, North China, and Korean Peninsula being the major source regions of PM_2.5, particularly during the Asian Northeastern Monsoons (ANMs). Dongsha Island (Site DS) was influenced by both Central China and coastal regions of East China, indicating Asian continental outflow (ACO) as the major source of PM_2.5. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of PM_2.5 resolved that soil dust, sea salts, biomass burning, ship emissions, and secondary aerosols were the major sources. Northerly Channels (i.e. East and West Channels) were primarily influenced by ship emissions and secondary aerosols, while South Channel was dominated by oceanic spray and soil dust. The results of W-PSCF and W-CWT analysis indicated that three remote sites experienced significant contributions from Central China in the highest PM_2.5 concentration range (75–100 %). In contrast, PM_2.5 in the 0–25 % and 25–50 % ranges primarily originated from the open seas, with ship emissions being the prominent source. It suggested that northern regions with heavy industrialization and urbanization have impacts on high PM_2.5 concentrations, while open seas are the main sources of low PM_2.5 concentrations.