Temperature inversions in the atmospheric boundary layer and lower troposphere over the Sichuan Basin, China: Climatology and impacts on air pollution

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 726; p. 138579
• Main Authors: Feng, Xinyuan, Wei, Shimin, Wang, Shigong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-07-2020
• Subjects: Air pollution; Elevated inversion; Lower troposphere inversion; Sichuan Basin; Surface-based inversion; Temperature inversion frequency; Sichuan Basin; Elevated inversion; Air pollution; Lower troposphere inversion; Surface-based inversion; Temperature inversion frequency
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138579

The Sichuan Basin (SB) is one of the four most severely polluted regions in China in terms of air quality, and the frequent generation of temperature inversions is a key factor. The deep mountain-basin topography and the geographical location adjacent to the Tibetan Plateau combine to make the inversion characteristics of this region unique. Knowledge regarding these characteristics remains limited, however. In this study, the radiosonde data at standard pressure levels and significant levels from all SB operational radiosonde stations over 2015–2018 were used to document the climatological features of the inversions from the surface to a height of 5500 m and to evaluate the impact on local air pollutant concentrations.
Results revealed that the temperature inversion in the SB is a common and year-round phenomenon. The annual inversion frequency, depth, and strength values are 74.4%, 252.2 m, and 1.3 °C/100 m, respectively. The inversions are most frequent (95.4%), deepest (289.4 m), and strongest (1.6 °C/100 m) in winter. They tend to occur at one of two heights, either below 600 m or between 2200 and 3500 m. Based on their bottom heights, the inversions were divided into three groups: surface-based inversions (SIs), elevated inversions (EIs), and lower-troposphere inversions (LTIs). Annual LTI is most frequent (63.0%) and deepest (264.7 m), while annual SI is strongest (1.8 °C/100 m). Extreme contrasts exist in the seasonal properties of different inversion types. All types of inversions play a considerable role in air pollution, resulting in a high probability of severe and very serious pollution in winter. SI has a greater impact on pollutant concentrations than EI and LTI. The frequent generation of LTIs is a unique feature of the deep SB. LITs exert a significant impact on the formation of local heavy air pollution, but have not been given sufficient attention.
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•Inversions frequently occur below the height of 600 m and between 2200 and 3500 m.•The frequent generation of LTIs is a unique feature of the deep SB.•Annual LTIs are the most frequent and deepest, while annual SIs are the strongest.•LTIs, unnoticed in the past, have a significant impact on SB air pollution.