Optika Atmosfery i Okeana Journal

Vol. 38, issue 03, article # 3

Pronchev G. B., Еrmakov A. N. Mechanism of non-photochemical formation and estimation of rate of sulphate accumulation in atmospheric haze. // Optika Atmosfery i Okeana. 2025. V. 38. No. 03. P. 178–184. DOI: 10.15372/AOO20250303 [in Russian].
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Abstract:

The causes of dense non-photochemical haze (smog) over Beijing in winter conditions are still poorly understood. The purpose of the work is to study the mechanism of catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide with molecular oxygen in aerosol particles and the formation of dense non-photochemical haze. It is shown that the rapid accumulation of SO₄^2– (tens of mg×m^-3×h^-1) is observed only at high humidity and moisture acidity in particles рН = 3.7÷4.8. The reason is the transition in these conditions of the catalytic (non-photochemical) oxidation of SO₂ by atmospheric oxygen with the participation of Fe and Mn ions into a fast degenerate branched mode. Modeling of the occurrence of catastrophically dangerous atmospheric haze should necessarily be carried out taking into account the mechanism of this catalytic reaction.

Keywords:

aerosol, atmospheric haze, sulfate, non-photochemical reaction, catalysis, Fe/Mn ions

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