Simultaneous observation of atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate and ozone in the megacity of Shanghai, China: regional transport and thermal decomposition

Abstract Atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and ozone (O3) are two typical indicators for photochemical pollution that have adverse effects on the ecosystem and human health. Observation networks for these pollutants have been expanding in developed regions of China, such as North China Plain (NCP) and Pearl River Delta (PRD), but are sparse in Yangtze River Delta (YRD), meaning their concentration and influencing factors remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a one-year measurement of atmospheric PAN, O3, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and meteorological parameters from December 2016 to November 2017 in Shanghai. Overall, high hourly maximum PAN and O3 were found to be 7.0 and 185 ppbv in summer, 6.2 and 146 ppbv in autumn, 5.8 and 137 ppbv in spring, and 6.0 and 76.7 ppbv in winter, respectively. Continental air masses probably carried atmospheric pollutants to the sampling site, while frequent maritime winds brought in less polluted air masses. Furthermore, positive correlations (R: 0.72–0.85) between PAN and O3 were found in summer, indicating a predominant role of photochemistry in their formation. Unlike in summer, weak or no correlations between PAN and O3 were featured during the other seasons, especially in winter, due to their different loss pathways. Unexpectedly, positive correlations between PAN and PM2.5 were found in all seasons. During summer, moderate correlation could be attributed to the strong photochemistry acting as a common driver in the formation of secondary aerosols and PAN. During winter, high PM2.5 might promote PAN production through HONO production, hence resulting in a good positive correlation. Additionally, the loss of PAN by thermal decomposition (TPAN) only accounted for a small fraction (ca. 1%) of the total (PAN + TPAN) during a typical winter episode, while it significantly reached 14.4 ppbv (71.1% of the total) in summer.