Diurnal Variations in High Time-Resolved Molecular Distributions and Formation Mechanisms of Biogenic Secondary Organic Aerosols at Mt. Huang, East China.

The molecular characteristics and formation mechanism of biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOAs) in the forested atmosphere are poorly known. Here, we report the temporal variations in and formation processes of BSOA tracers derived from isoprene, monoterpenes, and ß caryophyllene in PM2.5 samples collected at the foot of Mt. Huang (483 m a. s. l) in East China during the summer of 2019 with a 3 h time resolution. The concentrations of nearly all of the detected species, including organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), levoglucosan, and SIA (sum of SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+), were higher at night (19:00-7:00 of the next day) than in the daytime (7:00-19:00). In addition, air pollutants that accumulated by the dynamic transport of the mountain breeze at night were also a crucial reason for the higher BSOA tracers. Most of the BSOA tracers exhibited higher concentrations at night than in the daytime and peaked at 1:00 to 4:00 or 4:00 to 7:00. Those BSOA tracers presented strong correlations with O3 in the daytime rather than at night, indicating that BSOAs in the daytime were primarily derived from the photo-oxidation of BVOCs with O3. The close correlations of BSOA tracers with SO42- and particle acidity (pHis) suggest that BSOAs were primarily derived from the acid-catalyzed aqueous-phase oxidation. Considering the higher relative humidity and LWC concentration at night, the promoted aqueous oxidation was the essential reason for the higher concentrations of BSOA tracers at night. Moreover, levoglucosan exhibited a robust correlation with BSOA tracers, especially ß-caryophyllinic acid, suggesting that biomass burning from long-distance transport exerted a significant impact on BSOA formation. Based on a tracer-based method, the estimated concentrations of secondary organic carbon (SOC) derived from isoprene, monoterpenes, and ß caryophyllene at night (0.90 ± 0.57 µgC m-3) were higher than those (0.53 ± 0.34 µgC m-3) in the daytime, accounting for 14.5 ± 8.5% and 12.2 ± 5.0% of OC, respectively. Our results reveal that the BSOA formation at the foot of Mt. Huang was promoted by the mountain-valley breezes and anthropogenic pollutants from long-range transport.

Contrasting molecular characteristics and formation mechanisms of biogenic and anthropogenic secondary organic aerosols at the summit and foot of Mt. Huang, East China.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) exerts a considerable influence on atmospheric chemistry. However, little information about the vertical distribution of SOA in the alpine setting is available, which limited the simulation of SOA using chemical transport models. Here, a total of 15 biogenic and anthropogenic SOA tracers were measured in PM2.5 aerosols at both the summit (1840 m a.s.l.) and foot (480 m a.s.l.) of Mt. Huang during the winter of 2020 to explore their vertical distribution and formation mechanism. Most of the determined chemical species (e.g., BSOA and ASOA tracers, carbonaceous components, major inorganic ions) and gaseous pollutants at the foot of Mt. Huang were 1.7-3.2 times higher concentrations than those at the summit, suggesting the relatively more significant effect of anthropogenic emissions at the ground level. The ISORROPIA-II model showed that aerosol acidity increases as altitude decreases. Air mass trajectories, potential source contribution function (PSCF), and correlation analysis of BSOA tracers with temperature revealed that SOA at the foot of Mt. Huang was mostly derived from the local oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while SOA at the summit was mainly influenced by long-distance transport. The robust correlations of BSOA tracers with anthropogenic pollutants (e.g., NH3, NO2, and SO2) (r = 0.54-0.91, p < 0.05) indicated that anthropogenic emissions could promote BSOA productions in the mountainous background atmosphere. Moreover, most of SOA tracers (r = 0.63-0.96, p < 0.01) and carbonaceous species (r = 0.58-0.81, p < 0.01) were correlated well with levoglucosan in all samples, suggesting that biomass burning played an important role in the mountain troposphere. This work demonstrated that daytime SOA at the summit of Mt. Huang was significantly influenced by the valley breeze in winter. Our results provide new insights into the vertical distributions and provenance of SOA in the free troposphere over East China.

[Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics of Co-pollution of PM2.5 and Ozone over BTH with Surrounding Area from 2015 to 2021].

PM2.5 and ozone co-pollution, which are harmful to not only human health but also the social economy, has become the pivotal issue in air pollution prevention and synergistic control, especially in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas and "2+26" cities. It is necessary to analyze the correlation between PM2.5 and ozone concentration and explore the mechanism of PM2.5 and ozone co-pollution. In order to study the characteristics of PM2.5 and ozone co-pollution in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei with its surrounding area, ArcGIS and SPSS software were used to analyze the correlation between air quality data and meteorological data of the "2+26" cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas from 2015 to 2021. The results indicated:① PM2.5 pollution constantly decreased from 2015 to 2021, and the pollution was concentrated in the central and southern parts of the region; ozone pollution showed a trend of fluctuation and presented a pattern of "low in the southwest and high in the northeast" spatially. In terms of seasonal variation, PM2.5concentration was mainly in the order of winter>spring ≈ autumn>summer, and O3-8h concentration was in the order of summer>spring>autumn>winter. ② In the research area, days with PM2.5 exceeding the standard continued to decline, whereas days with ozone exceeding the standard fluctuated, and days with co-pollution decreased significantly; there was a strong positive correlation between PM2.5 and ozone concentration in summer, with the highest correlation coefficient of 0.52, and a strong negative correlation in winter. ③ Comparing the meteorological conditions of typical cities during the ozone pollution period with that of the co-pollution period, the co-pollution occurred under the temperature range of 23.7-26.5℃, humidity of 48%-65%, and S-SE wind direction.

Characteristics and sources of amine-containing particles in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng, a seriously polluted city in North China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chinese government issued an unprecedentedly strict lockdown policy to control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), significantly mitigating air pollution because of the dramatic reduction of industrial and traffic emissions. To explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown (LCD) on organic aerosols, the mixing states and evolution processes of amine-containing particles were studied using a single particle aerosol mass spectrometer from January to March 2020 in Liaocheng, which is a seriously polluted city in North China. The counts and percentages of amine-containing particles in total obtained particles during the pre-LCD (547832, 29.8 %) were higher than those during the LCD (283983, 20.7 %) and post-LCD (102026, 18.4 %), mainly due to the reduced emission strength of amines and suppressed gas-to-particle partitioning of amines during the LCD and post-LCD. 74(C2H5)2NH2+ was the most abundant amine marker, which accounted for 98.2 %, 98.4 %, and 96.7 % of all amine-containing particles during the pre-LCD, LCD, and post-LCD, respectively. Correlation analysis and temporal variations indicated that the gas-to-particle partitioning of amines was facilitated by the stronger acidic environment and lower temperature, while the effect of RH and aerosol liquid water content was minor. The A-OC particles were the most abundant type (accounting for ~40 %) throughout the observation period. The temporal profiles and correlation analysis suggested that the impact of the increased O3 on the amines and their oxidation products (e.g., trimethylamine oxide) was minor. The identified particle types, correlation analysis, and the potential source contribution function results implied that the amine-containing particles were mainly derived from local and surrounding sources during the LCD, while those were mainly affected by long-range transport during the pre-LCD and post-LCD. Our results could deepen the comprehension of the sources and atmospheric processing of amines in the urban area of North China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Contrasting compositions and sources of organic aerosol markers in summertime PM2.5 from urban and mountainous regions in the North China Plain.

Although the chemical compositions and sources of organic aerosols (OAs) have been extensively investigated at the summit of Mt. Tai in the North China Plain (NCP), their vertical distributions and characterizations in the Mt. Tai region is not well known. To better understand the vertical variations of OAs in the urban and mountainous atmosphere, PM2.5 samples were collected simultaneously on a daytime/nighttime basis at two sites of different altitudes (Taian urban site: 20 m above ground; the summit of Mt. Tai: 1534 m a.s.l.) during the summer of 2016. The concentrations of all the determined chemical compounds (e.g., OC, EC, inorganic ions, saccharides, n-alkanes, PAHs and hopanes) except for biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA) tracers decreased with the increase in sampling height, indicating the relatively larger contribution of anthropogenic pollutants to OAs at the lower heights. The relatively low concentration levels of biomass burning tracers (e.g., levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan) and the insignificant correlations of levoglucosan with carbonaceous species demonstrated a negligible effect of biomass burning on the mountaintop atmosphere. The enhanced concentrations of BSOA tracers were observed with the increase of height, largely due to the more intensive secondary oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the stronger radiation conditions at the summit. The daytime concentrations of carbonaceous species, primary sugars, sugar alcohols, PAHs and low molecular weight n-alkanes were significantly higher than those in nighttime at Mt. Tai, suggesting that these chemical compounds at the summit of Mt.Tai aerosols were transported from the ground surface by valley breezes in daytime. There was no correlation between BSOA tracers and relative humidity (RH) or liquid water content (LWC) at both the sites, because both the high RH and LWC can suppress the acid-catalyzed formation of BSOA due to the dilution of the aerosol acidity.

Enhanced photochemical formation of secondary organic aerosols during the COVID-19 lockdown in Northern China.

To eliminate the spread of a novel coronavirus breaking out in the end of 2019 (COVID-19), the Chinese government has implemented a nationwide lockdown policy after the Chinese lunar New Year of 2020, resulting in a sharp reduction in air pollutant emissions. To investigate the impact of the lockdown on aerosol chemistry, the number fraction, size distribution and formation process of oxalic acid (C2) containing particles and its precursors were studied using a single particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SPAMS) at the urban site of Liaocheng in the North China Plain (NCP). Our results showed that five air pollutants (i.e., PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO) decreased by 30.0-59.8% during the lockdown compared to those before the lockdown, while O3 increased by 63.9% during the lockdown mainly due to the inefficient titration effect of O3 via NO reduction. The increased O3 concentration can boost the atmospheric oxidizing capacity and further enhance the formation of secondary organic aerosols, thereby significantly enhancing the C2 particles and its precursors as observed during the lockdown. Before the lockdown, C2 particles were significantly originated from biomass burning emissions and their subsequent aqueous-phase oxidation. The hourly variation patterns and correlation analysis before the lockdown suggested that relative humidity (RH) and aerosol liquid water content (ALWC) played a key role in the formation of C2 particles and the increased aerosol acidity can promote the conversion of precursors such as glyoxal (Gly) and methyglyoxal (mGly) into C2 particles in the aqueous phase. RH and ALWC decreased sharply but O3 concentration and solar radiation increased remarkably during the lockdown, the O3-dominated photochemical pathways played an important role in the formation of C2 particles in which aerosol acidity was ineffective. Our study indicated that air pollution treatment sponges on a joint-control and balanced strategy for controlling numerous pollutants.

[Chemical Compositions and Sources of n-Alkanes and Saccharides in PM2.5 from Taian City During the Summer].

To investigate the variations and sources of n-alkanes and sugars in Taian City during summer, PM2.5 samples were collected from July 22 to August 19, 2016. The identified n-alkane and sugar sources were investigated using a principal component analysis (PCA) multiple linear regression (MLR) model and a backward trajectory model. The results showed that the mass concentrations of PM2.5 during summer were (37.2±11.5) µg·m-3. The mass concentrations of n-alkanes were (83.3±34.7) ng·m-3, the carbon preference index (CPI) was 1.83, and the relative contribution of wax n-alkanes was 34.7%-69.4%, suggesting that contributions from terrestrial plants were more significant in Taian City. The results showed that the mass concentrations of sugars in Taian City during summer were (73.4±46.6) ng·m-3. Levoglucan, galactosan, and mannosan were the main saccharides, accounting for 64.0%, 7.1%, and 6.3% of the total concentrations of sugars, respectively, indicating that biomass burning is much more significant in Taian City. The results of the PCA-MLR model suggested that n-alkanes and sugars in Taian City during summer were mostly from terrestrial plants, coal burning and biomass burning. The backward trajectory model showed that the pollution mostly came from the native sources of Shandong province and the inland cities in the south.

Molecular characteristics and stable carbon isotope compositions of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds in the urban atmosphere of the North China Plain: Implications for aqueous phase formation of SOA during the haze periods.

In the past five years, Chinese government has promulgated stringent measures to mitigate air pollution. However, PM2.5 levels in the China North Plain (NCP), which is one of the regions with the heaviest air pollution in the world, are still far beyond the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. To improve our understanding on the sources and formation mechanisms of haze in the NCP, PM2.5 samples were collected during the winter of 2017 on a day/night basis at the urban site of Liaocheng, which is one of the most polluted cities in the NCP. The samples were determined for molecular distributions and stable carbon isotope compositions of dicarboxylic acids and their precursors (ketocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls), levoglucosan, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Our results showed that oxalic acid (C2) is the dominant dicarboxylic acid, followed by succinic acid (C4) and malonic acid (C3), and glyoxylic acid (ωC2) is the most abundant ketocarboxylic acids. Concentrations of C2, glyoxal (Gly) and methylglyoxal (mGly) presented robust correlations with levoglucosan, suggesting that biomass burning is a significant source of PM2.5 in the NCP. Moreover, C2 and Gly and mGly linearly correlated with SO42-, relative humidity (RH), aerosol liquid water content (LWC) as well as particle in-situ pH (pHis), indicating that aqueous-phase oxidation is the major formation pathway of these SOA, and is driven by acid-catalyzed oxidation. Concentrations and relative abundances of secondary species including SNA (SO42-, NO3- and NH4+), dicarboxylic acids, and aerosol LWC in PM2.5 are much higher in the haze periods than in the clean periods, suggesting that aqueous reaction is a vital role in the haze formation. In comparison with those in the clean periods, stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) of major dicarboxylic acids and related SOA and the mass ratios of C2/diacids, C2/Gly and C2/mGly are higher in the haze periods, indicating that haze particles were more aged and enriched in secondary species.

[Diurnal Variations and Source Analysis of Water-soluble Compounds in PM2.5 During the Winter in Liaocheng City].

To investigate the diurnal variations and sources of water-soluble compounds in Liaocheng City, PM2.5 samples were collected between January and February 2017. The PM2.5 samples were analyzed for the compositions, concentrations, and sources of water-soluble inorganic ions, oxalic acid, and levoglucosan. The sources of these chemical compound were investigated using principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling. The results showed that the mass concentrations of PM2.5during the nighttime were higher than those during the daytime, and the average concentrations exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) by more than 1.8 times. Moreover, atmospheric pollution was worse during the day than during the night. SNA (SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+) were the dominant species among the inorganic ions, the relative abundance of which with respect to the total concentrations of inorganic ions was 73.4% and 77.1% during the daytime and nighttime, respectively. The ratios of anion to cation equivalents (AE/CE) were less than one, suggesting that the PM2.5 was slightly alkaline, and the degree of acidity at night was stronger than during the day. The results of the correlation analyses suggested that aqueous-phase oxidation was the major formation pathway of oxalic acid, which is driven by acid-catalyzed oxidation. The oxalic acid was mainly influenced by biomass burning during the winter in Liaocheng City. The results of the PCA-MLR model suggested that water-soluble compounds in Liaocheng City were mostly from vehicular emissions and secondary oxidation, biomass burning, while the impacts of mineral dust and coal burning were relatively minor.

[Source Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of PAHs in PM2.5 During Winter in Liaocheng City].

To investigate the mass concentrations, sources, and health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient particulate matter (PM) in Liaocheng City during winter, 14 types of PAHs in PM2.5 were determined from January to February of 2017. The sources of the PAHs were analyzed by using diagnostics ratios and the principal component analysis (PCA)-multiple linear regression (MLR) model,and the health risk of PAHs was assessed by BaP equivalent concentrations (BaPeq) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The results showed that the mass concentrations of PAHs in PM2.5 during winter were (64.89±48.23) ng·m-3, Fla, Pyr, and Chry were predominant species, accounting for 15.5%, 12.8%, and 12.7% of the total concentrations of PAHs, respectively. Moreover, the ring distribution of the PAHs was dominated by four-ring PAHs. The pollution during the pre-Spring Festival and firework Ⅱwere the most severe during the sampling period. The results of the PCA-MLR model suggested that PAHs originated mostly from coal burning, biomass burning, and vehicle emissions. The toxicity exposure index (TEQ) in Liaocheng City during winter was (6.37±4.92) ng·m-3. The results of the risk model revealed that the ILCR of adults was higher than that of children, and both groups of ILCR for winter were in the range of the risk threshold. This suggests that a potential risk in terms of inhalation PAH exposure for residents in Liaocheng City.

[Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of n-alkanes and Saccharides in PM2.5 During the Winter in Liaocheng City].

To investigate molecular composition, mass concentrations, and sources of n-alkanes and sugars which are adsorbed in ambient particulate matters in Liaocheng City during winter, PM2.5 samples were collected from January 17 to February 15, 2017 at Liaocheng University. 19 kinds (C18-C36) of n-alkanes and 10 kinds of sugars were determined using GC-MS. The identification of n-alkane and sugar sources were investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the mass concentrations of total n-alkanes in PM2.5 during the winter were (456.9±252.5) ng·m-3. During the haze period, the concentrations of n-alkanes were two times higher than those on clear days. Additionally, the concentrations of n-alkanes during fireworks event I and fireworks event Ⅱ were 0.9 times and 1.2 times higher than those on clear days. During the sampling period, the Carbon preference index (CPI) was 1.2±0.1, and the contribution from plant wax concentrations for n-alkanes (% Wax Cn) was between 3.1%~36.0%, indicating that fossil fuels were the major source of n-alkanes in Liaocheng City during the winter. The mass concentrations of saccharides in PM2.5 during the winter were (415.5±213.8) ng·m-3. Levoglucosan was the most abundant species, followed by galactosan and mannosan, which accounted for more than 91.6% of total saccharides, indicating that biomass burning was much more significant in Liaocheng City. PCA further suggested that n-alkane and saccharide compounds in atmospheric aerosol during the winter in Liaocheng City were primarily derived from fossil fuel and biomass burning.

[Analysis of Seasonal Variations in Chemical Characteristics and Sources of PM2.5 During Summer and Winter in Ji'nan City].

To investigate seasonal variations in the chemical compositions of aerosols in Ji'nan City, PM2.5 samples were collected during summer and winter in 2015. The sampling period lasted one month during each season. PM2.5 samples were analyzed for the composition, concentration, and sources of water-soluble inorganic ions, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Results showed that mass concentrations of PM2.5 in winter were about twice those in summer, and concentration levels varied between fine and excellent. The concentrations of total water-soluble inorganic ions were also higher in winter than in summer, with SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ being the dominant species and well correlated with each other. NH4+ in PM2.5 mostly existed in the form of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 in both summer and winter. There was strong secondary oxidation of SO2 and NO2. The sulfate oxidizing rate (SOR) was higher in summer than in winter, while the nitrate oxidizing rate (NOR) showed the opposite trend. The ratio of anions to cations in both summer and winter were less than one, suggesting that PM2.5 were slightly alkaline. The ISORROPIA-Ⅱ mode showed that acidity in winter was stronger than in summer. Concentations of OC and EC were both higher in winter than in summer. The ratios of OC to EC and WSOC to OC and estimated concentrations of secondary organic carbon (SOC) showed that secondary pollution was more serious in winter than in summer. Principal component analysis(PCA)indicated that the major sources contributing to inorganic ions were secondary oxidation and biomass burning in summer, and coal combustion and secondary pollutants formed by chemical oxidation of precursors emitted from coal combustion in winter.

[Diurnal Variation of Dicarboxylic Acids and Related SOA in PM2.5 from Heze City in Winter].

To identify the diurnal variation and formation mechanism of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds in PM2.5 from Heze City, PM2.5 samples were collected in the winter (December) of 2017, which were subsequently analyzed for dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids, α-dicarbonyls, and levoglucosan (Levo). The results showed that the total concentrations of dicarboxylic and ketocarboxylic acids were higher during daytime than those during nighttime. In contrast to the diurnal variation of dicarboxylic and ketocarboxylic acids, the total concentrations of α-dicarbonyls exhibited higher concentrations in nighttime than in daytime. Because α-dicarbonyls are the major precursors of dicarboxylic acids, the opposing patterns suggest that the photochemical oxidation in daytime is stronger than that in nighttime. Oxalic acid (C2) is the dominant species during both day-and nighttime, followed by phahalic acid (Ph), succinic acid (C4), and malonic acid (C3), which is consistent with that in other urban regions. The mass ratios of C3/C4 (R2>0.7) correlated strongly with temperature, indicating that organic compounds in the atmosphere of Heze City are mainly derived from the photochemical oxidation of local emissions rather than long-range transport in winter. C2 correlated with in-situ pH and SO42-, suggesting that aqueous-phase oxidation was the major formation pathway of C2, which is driven by acid-catalyzed oxidation. Since the major SOA (C2, glyoxal, and methyglyoxal, secondary organic aerosol) correlated with Levo and the average mass rations of K+/organic carbon was 0.06 (ranging from 0.03 to 0.13), it can be concluded that the dicarboxylic acids and related SOA and K+ in Heze City were significantly influenced by biomass burning in winter.

[Compositions and Sources of Summertime Dicarboxylic Acids and Related SOA in PM2.5 from Mt. Taishan].

To identify the compositions and sources of dicarboxylic acids and related SOA in Mt. Taishan, PM2.5 samples were collected from July to August, 2004, and analyzed for dicarboxylic acids and related compounds, the tracers of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) (Isopene, α-/ß-Pinene and ß-caryophyllene SOA tracers), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and inorganic ions. The results showed that total dicarboxylic acids were (376±189) ng·m-3, and C2 was the most abundant dicarboxylic acid, followed by C3, C4 and C9. The concentrations of diacids were more abundant than those in marine regions, but lower than those in urban and other mountainous areas, indicating that the atmosphere in Mt. Taishan was less influenced by anthropogenic pollution. C2/C4, C3/C4 and F/M ratios indicated that diacids were mostly produced by more intensive photochemical oxidation. The relative abundance of C9 to the total diacids, C9/C6 and C9/Ph ratios were higher than those in urban, marine and mountainous regions, further suggesting that SOA in Mt. Taishan atmosphere were mostly derived from biogenic sources rather than anthropogenic sources. Compared to the budgets of model and correlation analysis, it suggested that diacids and related SOA in Mt. Taishan were mostly derived from photochemical oxidation of local biogenic sources.

[Seasonal Variation and Sources of Dicarboxylic Acids and Related Compounds in PM10 from Mt. Huangshan].

To identify the seasonal variation of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds in PM10 from Mt. Huangshan. PM10samples were collected during the summer and winter of 2015, which were then analyzed for dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids, and α-dicarbonyls. The results showed that oxalic acid(HOOC-COOH, C2) was the dominant species in the summer and winter months, followed by malonic acid(HOOC-CH2-COOH, C3), and succinic acid[HOOC-(CH2)2-COOH, C4], being consistent with that in other high-altitude regions. Most of the diacids were more abundant in the summer months than in the winter months, while adipic acid(C6) and phahalic acid(Ph) were twice lower in the summer months, suggesting significant impact of anthropogenic pollution on the wintertime alpine atmosphere. Moreover, as major precursors of C2, glyoxal(Gly) and methylglyoxal(mGly) were also lower in the summer months than in the winter months, which were opposite to those of the diacids, indicating that the mountain troposphere was more oxidative in the summer months than in the winter months. Principal component analysis(PCA) further revealed that the wintertime SOA in the Mt. Huangshan troposphere mostly originated from the anthropogenic pollutants from long-distance transport. Conversely, the summertime SOA mostly originated from the further oxidation of the mountainous biogenic sources. The AIM(Aerosol Inorganic Model) calculation results showed that the aqueous-phase C2 production was the primary mechanism of C2 formation in ambient aerosol and was driven by acid-catalyzed oxidation in summer.