Assessing aerosol-radiation interaction with WRF-chem-solar: Case study on the impact of the "pollution reduction and carbon reduction synergy" policy

Aerosol-radiation interaction (ARI) plays an important role in air quality and climate change. The implementation of the "Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction Synergy (PRCRS)" policy provides a great case to explore the impact of ARI on air quality in Beijing and the surrounding Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. In this study, we analyzed the pollution characteristics and their relationship with meteorological factors in the BTH region, and used the WRF-Chem-Solar model to study the impact of the ARI effect on regional meteorological conditions, air quality improvement, and renewable energy during the implementation of atmospheric pollution improvement policies based on four different scenarios. The ARI effect led to decreases in 2-m temperature, planetary boundary layer height, surface downward shortwave radiation (SWDOWN), and an increase in 2-m relative humidity. The meteorological conditions were unfavorable to the dispersion of pollutants, and the ARI effect can lead to further aggravation of pollutants. The implementation of the PRCRS policy can suppress the adverse effects of ARI on regional air pollution diffusion conditions and improve regional pollution meteorological conditions, and the ARI effect can further enhance the policy's impact on improving air quality. In terms of renewable energy, the implementation of the PRCRS policy will increase renewable energy in the BTH region, due to the inhibition of the ARI effect on SWDOWN and wind speed at 100 m.