Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2992
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2992
24 Jul 2025
 | 24 Jul 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).

Enhancing particle number concentration modelling accuracy in China by incorporating various nucleation parameterization schemes into the CMAQ version 5.3.2 model

Jianjiong Mao, Lei Jiang, Zhicheng Feng, Jingyi Li, Yanhong Zhu, Momei Qin, Song Guo, Min Hu, and Jianlin Hu

Abstract. Particle number concentration (PNC) is a key parameter for assessing particles’ effects on public health and climate. Although the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model has been widely used to investigate the particle mass concentrations in China, its capability of reproducing the PNC is unclear. After applying the default CMAQ model (version 5.3.2) in Beijing and Nanjing, the model underestimates PNC by 70 % to 80 % with the default Binary Homogeneous Nucleation (BHN) parameterization scheme. We then implement Ternary Homogeneous Nucleation (THN), Ion Mediated Nucleation (IMN), and H2SO4-dimethylamine (DMA) nucleation parameterization schemes into the CMAQ model. Seven modelling scenarios are conducted to explore the model's performance on PNC. The results indicate that the scenario with combined IMN and DMA scheme (SumID scheme) yields the best agreement with the observations, enhancing PNC during new particle formation (NPF) events by 84 % in Beijing and 36 % in Nanjing. In SumID scheme, IMN contributes to 56.30 % of the number concentrations in Beijing and 27.86 % in Nanjing, while DMA accounts for 28.15 % in Beijing and 29.27 % in Nanjing, respectively. IMN nucleation contributed PNC exhibits a pronounced diurnal variation with higher concentrations during the day and lower levels at night. DMA pathway predominantly influences NPF events during the morning and evening peak. This study enhances the model's capability to accurately simulate NPF events and underscores the significant influence of IMN and DMA nucleation on PNC in China.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share
Jianjiong Mao, Lei Jiang, Zhicheng Feng, Jingyi Li, Yanhong Zhu, Momei Qin, Song Guo, Min Hu, and Jianlin Hu

Status: open (until 23 Sep 2025)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
Jianjiong Mao, Lei Jiang, Zhicheng Feng, Jingyi Li, Yanhong Zhu, Momei Qin, Song Guo, Min Hu, and Jianlin Hu
Jianjiong Mao, Lei Jiang, Zhicheng Feng, Jingyi Li, Yanhong Zhu, Momei Qin, Song Guo, Min Hu, and Jianlin Hu

Viewed

Total article views: 566 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
480 78 8 566 28 13 12
  • HTML: 480
  • PDF: 78
  • XML: 8
  • Total: 566
  • Supplement: 28
  • BibTeX: 13
  • EndNote: 12
Views and downloads (calculated since 24 Jul 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 24 Jul 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 566 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 566 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 03 Sep 2025
Download
Short summary
Tiny air particles impact air quality and climate change. Our study improved their prediction in China by modeling two key formation processes: ions + sulfuric acid (daytime) and sulfuric acid + dimethylamine (morning/evening). This improved model increases predictions by 36–84 % in Beijing and Nanjing. These advancements enable better demonstrate how these chemical processes significantly influence China's particulate pollution.
Share