Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-243
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-243
06 Feb 2025
 | 06 Feb 2025

Fertilization-driven Pulses of Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Complicate Air Pollution in Early Spring over North China

Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa Molina

Abstract. Atmospheric NO2 has shown periodic conspicuous pulses in tropospheric column in March over North China during the past two decades. However, these repetitive pulses have never been reported and its underlying causes remain unclear. Here, we present robust evidence to demonstrate that agricultural fertilization drives the early-spring NO2 column increases. The fertilization-driven soil NOX (=NO+NO2) emissions, comparable to anthropogenic sources, exert complicated influences on regional air quality. They significantly reduce nocturnal and diurnal O3 concentrations in agricultural areas in early spring, distinct from the scenarios in summer, but increase fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations via strongly enhancing nitrate aerosol formation. The impact also extends to urban areas, approximately half that of agricultural areas. These findings are with increasing implications for coordinated control of PM2.5 and O3 under global warming. We thus suggest that reducing NOX emissions in croplands is essential to achieve better air quality in agricultural countries and regions.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Oct 2025
Fertilization-driven pulses of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide complicate air pollution in early spring over the North China Plain
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa T. Molina
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11703–11718, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11703-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa Molina

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-243', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-243', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 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-2025-243', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-243', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Mar 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Guohui Li on behalf of the Authors (23 Apr 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (29 Apr 2025) by Kostas Tsigaridis
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (09 May 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (24 May 2025)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (24 May 2025) by Kostas Tsigaridis
AR by Guohui Li on behalf of the Authors (07 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (14 Jul 2025) by Kostas Tsigaridis
AR by Guohui Li on behalf of the Authors (15 Jul 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Oct 2025
Fertilization-driven pulses of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide complicate air pollution in early spring over the North China Plain
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa T. Molina
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11703–11718, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11703-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa Molina
Tian Feng, Guohui Li, Shuyu Zhao, Naifang Bei, Xin Long, Yuepeng Pan, Yu Song, Ruonan Wang, Xuexi Tie, and Luisa Molina

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Short summary
Impacts of agricultural fertilization on nitrogen oxide and air quality are becoming more pronounced with continuous reductions in fossil fuel sources in China. We report that atmospheric nitrogen dioxide pulses driven by agricultural fertilizations largely complicate air pollution in North China, highlighting the necessity of agricultural emission control.
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