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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-165
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-165
20 Feb 2025
 | 20 Feb 2025

Explainable ensemble machine learning revealing enhanced anthropogenic emissions of particulate nitro-aromatic compounds in eastern China

Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang

Abstract. Nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) are important atmospheric pollutants that impact air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and human health. Understanding the relationship between NACs formation and key environmental driving factors are crucial for mitigating their environmental and health impacts. In this work, we combined an ensemble machine learning (EML) model with the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to identify the key driving factors for ambient particulate NACs covering primary emissions, secondary formation, and meteorological conditions based on field observations at urban, rural, and mountain sites in eastern China. The EML model effectively reproduced ambient NACs and recognized that anthropogenic emissions (i.e., coal combustion, traffic emission, and biomass burning) were the most important driving factors, with the total contribution of 49.3 %, while significant influences from meteorology (27.4 %), and secondary formation (23.3 %) were also confirmed. Seasonal variations analysis showed that direct emissions presented positive responses to NACs concentrations in spring, summer, and autumn, while temperature had the largest impact in winter. By evaluating NACs formation and loss under various locations in winter, we found that anthropogenic sources played a dominant role in increasing NACs levels in urban and rural sites, while reduced ambient temperature along with secondary formation from gas-phase oxidation was the main reason for relatively high particulate NACs levels at the mountain site. This work provides a reliable modelling method for understanding the dominant sources and influencing factors for atmospheric NACs and highlights the necessity of strengthening emission sources controls to mitigate organic aerosol pollution.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Aug 2025
Explainable ensemble machine learning revealing spatiotemporal heterogeneity in driving factors of particulate nitro-aromatic compounds in eastern China
Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8407–8425, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8407-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8407-2025, 2025
Short summary
Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-165', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-165', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Mar 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-165', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-165', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Mar 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Xinfeng Wang on behalf of the Authors (06 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (12 May 2025) by Qi Chen
AR by Xinfeng Wang on behalf of the Authors (14 May 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Aug 2025
Explainable ensemble machine learning revealing spatiotemporal heterogeneity in driving factors of particulate nitro-aromatic compounds in eastern China
Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8407–8425, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8407-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8407-2025, 2025
Short summary
Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang
Min Li, Xinfeng Wang, Tianshuai Li, Yujia Wang, Yueru Jiang, Yujiao Zhu, Wei Nie, Rui Li, Jian Gao, Likun Xue, Qingzhu Zhang, and Wenxing Wang

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Short summary
By integrating field measurements with interpretable ensemble machine learning framework, we comprehensively identified key driving factors of nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs), demonstrated complex interrelationships, and quantified their contributions across different locations. This work provides a reliable modelling approach for recognizing causes of NACs pollution, enhances our understanding on variations of atmospheric NACs, and highlights the necessity of strengthening emission controls.
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