Abstract:
This study investigated aerosol distribution, the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols, and the feedback of these effects on the meteorology of eastern China during the winters of 2013 and 2019, using an online coupled regional atmospheric chemistry/aerosol-climate model. The modeling results revealed the following changes during the implementation of the Clean Air Action from 2013 to 2019: The regional mean near-surface PM
2.5 concentration decreased by 29%. The DRE (direct radiative effect) of aerosols decreased by 24%, mainly due to the reduction in anthropogenic emissions. Meanwhile, the IRE (indirect radiative effect) increased by 12%, which was associated with an increase in cloud amount in southern China. Taken together, TRE (total radiative effect) of aerosols decreased by 10% over eastern China. Compared with the winter of 2013, the surface air temperature in the winter of 2019 was higher in most areas of northern China, with the maximum increase exceeding 1.0°C in Beijing and Tianjin; the higher temperatures were mainly attributed to the weakening of the aerosol cooling effect induced by the implementation of the Clean Air Action. Meanwhile, in parts of southern China, the surface air temperature in 2019 decreased by more than 0.7°C, accompanied by a decrease in precipitation caused by a stronger IRE (and hence, TRE) than that in 2013. This study reveals the potential climatic effects of the Clean Air Action. This study also highlights the need to design a win–win health–climate policy to address environmental and climatic changes.