Intense atmospheric pollution modifies weather: a case of mixed biomass burning with fossil fuel combustion pollution in eastern China

TLDR

Air pollutants, especially aerosols, have been studied for climate effects, but few have examined their impact on everyday weather. The study provides first direct evidence that mixed atmospheric pollution alters weather, notably temperature and rainfall. Measurements in Nanjing show that mixed biomass burning and fossil fuel pollution reduced solar radiation by >70 %, sensible heat by >85 %, lowered temperature by ~10 K, and altered daytime and nighttime rainfall. The results demonstrate clear air‑pollution–weather interactions, quantify the influence through boundary‑layer dynamics and aerosol–radiation–cloud feedbacks, and underscore the need for cross‑disciplinary research on the environmental, weather, and climate impacts of mixed biomass and fossil‑fuel combustion in East China. Abstract.

Abstract

Abstract. The influence of air pollutants, especially aerosols, on regional and global climate has been widely investigated, but only a very limited number of studies report their impacts on everyday weather. In this work, we present for the first time direct (observational) evidence of a clear effect of how a mixed atmospheric pollution changes the weather with a substantial modification in the air temperature and rainfall. By using comprehensive measurements in Nanjing, China, we found that mixed agricultural burning plumes with fossil fuel combustion pollution resulted in a decrease in the solar radiation intensity by more than 70%, a decrease in the sensible heat by more than 85%, a temperature drop by almost 10 K, and a change in rainfall during both daytime and nighttime. Our results show clear air pollution–weather interactions, and quantify how air pollution affects weather via air pollution–boundary layer dynamics and aerosol–radiation–cloud feedbacks. This study highlights cross-disciplinary needs to investigate the environmental, weather and climate impacts of the mixed biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion sources in East China.