Spatial-Temporal Distribution and Variation of NO2 and Its Sources and Chemical Sinks in Shanxi Province, China

In present China, continuing to control PM2.5 (particulate matter < 2.5 μm) and preventing the rise of O3 are the most urgent environmental tasks in its air clean actions. Considering that NO2 is an important precursor of PM2.5 and O3, a comprehensive analysis around this pollutant was conducted based on the real-time-monitoring data from Jan 2018 to Mar 2019 in 11 prefecture-level cities in Shanxi Province of China. The results showed that the annual average concentration of NO2 in Shanxi prefecture-level cities is mainly distributed in the range of 28.84–48.93 μg/m3 with the values in five cities exceeding the Chinese Grade Ⅱ standard limit (40 μg/m3). The over-standard days were all concentrated in the heating season with a large pollution peak occurring in winter except in Lvliang, while four cities also had a small pollution peak in summer. High NO2 polluted areas were mainly concentrated in the central part of Shanxi, and trended on the whole from the southwest to the northeast (Lvliang/Linfen—Taiyuan/Jinzhong—Yangquan/Jinzhong), which was different from the spatial distribution of PM2.5 and O3. Lvliang was the hot spot of NO2 pollution in summer, while Taiyuan was the hot spot in winter. Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis indicated that central-north Shaanxi, central-south Shanxi, northern Henan, the south of Shijiazhuang and areas around Erdos in Inner Mongolia were important source areas of NO2 in Shanxi besides local emissions. Our findings are expected to provide valuable implications to policymakers in Shanxi of China to effectively abate the air pollution.