title: Winter monsoon variability and its impact on aerosol concentrations in East Asia.
abstract: We investigate the relationship between winter aerosol concentrations over East Asia and variability in the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) using GEOS-Chem 3-D global chemical transport model simulations and ground-based aerosol concentration data. We find that both observed and modeled surface aerosol concentrations have strong relationships with the intensity of the EAWM over northern (30-50°N, 100-140°E) and southern (20-30°N, 100-140°E) East Asia. In strong winter monsoon years, compared to weak winter monsoon years, lower and higher surface PM2.5concentrations by up to 25% are shown over northern and southern East Asia, respectively. Analysis of the simulated results indicates that the southward transport of aerosols is a key process controlling changes in aerosol concentrations over East Asia associated with the EAWM. Variability in the EAWM is found to play a major role in interannual variations in aerosol concentrations; consequently, changes in the EAWM will be important for understanding future changes in wintertime air quality over East Asia.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaein I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: rjpark@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Rokjin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001208:Asia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Aerosol; Chemical transport model; East Asia; Winter monsoon