2019年6月桂林三次强降水天气成因对比分析

利用多普勒雷达、气象卫星、自动气象站等监测数据以及NCEP再分析资料,对桂林2019年6月6-12日接连3次强降水天气过程的环流背景、影响系统与形成原因进行了对比分析。结果表明:(1)3次过程按影响系统分属暖区暴雨、低涡暴雨和锋面暴雨过程,均发生在高空急流右侧辐散、低空急流左侧辐合叠加区。(2)3次过程均受500 hPa短波槽和地面中尺度辐合线影响,但第1次过程中西南急流及地形等、第2次过程中低涡切变线、第3次过程中冷锋也起到重要作用。(3)3次过程的触发系统不同,第1次暖区暴雨过程迎风坡地形对其起触发作用,西南急流使得后向传播的对流云带维持;第2次低涡暴雨过程的触发系统为低层位于贵州一带的西南涡,西部冷空气侵入与西南急流加强是低涡对流云团维持较长时间的原因;第3次锋面暴雨的触发系统为冷锋,锋面配合锋前暖湿气流使对流云带加强。(4)第1次过程暖区暴雨MCS模态主要为线状后向扩建类,极端强降水出现在线对流中后端;第2次过程低涡暴雨MCS模态为涡旋类,极端强降水出现在涡旋中心附近;第3次过程锋面暴雨MCS模态由前期后部层云区线状对流转为层状云包裹对流系统,强降水发生在线对流弯曲或中心强回波处。     

一次强降水过程涡旋状MCS结构特征及成因初步分析

利用新一代天气雷达资料分析了造成2011年6月18日湖北省江汉平原强降水涡旋状中尺度对流系统(MCS)发生发展过程的结构特征,联合常规观测、地面加密观测及雷达四维变分风场反演资料初步研究了MCS可能成因。结果表明:(1)成熟阶段的强降水涡旋状MCS回波表现为气旋性弯曲的多条螺旋对流回波带、周围被大片层状云回波所包裹的结构特征,后期因冷空气侵入演变出冷暖锋式结构。回波合并和旋转式列车效应是产生强降水的主要运动特征。(2)涡旋状MCS是在有利环境场下,主要由鄂西山地一江汉平原过渡带边界层中尺度涡旋系统强烈发展组织的结果。(3)中尺度涡旋系统形成发展与地面暖倒槽发展、西南低涡前侧降水和特殊地形作用有密切关系,来自不同方向气流形成的强烈辐合是其前期形成发展的主要机制,后期发展可能与潜热释放有关,涡旋环流向上发展到700 hPa。     

一次伴有尾随层状云类MCS强降水过程结构特征

利用常规观测资料、多普勒天气雷达资料及NCEP再分析资料,对2018年5月18日湖北省中东部地区一次尾随层状云类中尺度对流系统(MCS)的雷达回波特征和地面中尺度系统演变特征进行了分析。结果表明:1)短波槽东移南压,引导冷空气南下,与副热带高压外侧强劲的西南暖湿急流长时间在湖北省中东部地区交汇,形成有利于诱发MCS的大尺度环流背景;2)强降水的主要发生时段集中于尾随层状云降水回波对流线形成的初始阶段和成熟阶段,强雨团主要位于对流线附近及层状云降水回波头部,同时伴有雷暴大风天气;3)西南涡的发展为尾随层状云类MCS高效降水产生提供有利的环境场,边界层中尺度辐合线在对流的触发、发展、组织的过程中起到重要的作用,地形的抬升作用及阻挡作用,使MCS持续发展,同时,MCS后部"冷池"能量累积溢出形成雷暴冷出流与环境南风辐合,不断激发新的MCS;4)对流线附近存在明显的上升气流,环境风入流提供了充足的水汽供应,其前侧、后方分别有一支不同高度的下沉气流(出流或入流),并与环境风辐合,使MCS向前持续发展,并在后方不断激发新的MCS,造成较长时间的强降水。     

武汉地区4次低质心类短时强降水对流风暴特征分析

利用自动气象站逐小时和逐5 min观测资料、长江中游雷达组合反射率因子SWAN拼图产品及NCEP FNL再分析资料,对武汉地区4次低质心类短时强降水对流风暴特征进行分析。结果表明:不同的天气背景诱发的对流系统特征不同,低层暖强迫造成的斜压不稳定背景下,环境条件高能高湿,雷暴冷池的积累有利于稳定性降水前沿触发线状强对流;斜压锋生天气背景下,冷暖剧烈交汇使得大气斜压性显著增强,地面多有中尺度气旋波发展,锋区冷区稳定性降水中多伴随短时强降水,而暖区能量、湿度条件更好,易诱发短时强降水等分散性强对流;准正压天气背景下,大气斜压性弱,环境高能高湿,多由近地面层流场强迫和局地热力差异触发剧烈的热对流活动。从对流风暴雷达回波特征和降水特征来看,TS类线状中尺度对流系统(MCS)移速较快,短时强降水范围小;准静止类表现为带状走向的大范围层状云回波稳定维持,中间伴有多个积云对流生消迭代,每一阶段降水增强都与新生对流单体途经武汉站点相对应;组织合并类在回波合并时,意味着短时强降水的发展增强,合并后的回波形态和走向影响着降水的强度和持续时间。在不同的环境背景、触发诱因和组织形态下,短时强降水发生前后地面气象...     

峡谷地形对两次极端降水的作用

利用地面加密自动站、常规观测资料、NCEP再分析资料和两种模式产品,对发生在宜昌峡谷地区2016年7月7日局地极端短时强降水过程和2018年4月22日稳定性极端降水过程形成原因及模式预报性能进行检验分析。结果表明:(1)强的块状回波稳定少动,造成7月7日高效率的对流降水。4月22日降水既有沿山中尺度对流回波造成的对流降水,也有螺旋状涡旋回波形成的锋面层状云降水。(2)山谷风形成中尺度切变线,触发对流,中尺度切变线发展为中尺度涡旋使对流加强是极端短时降水形成的主要原因。(3)地形强迫抬升使对流降水强度明显增大,锋面层状云回波受地形阻挡影响长时间维持是稳定性极端降水形成主要原因。(4)地形相差大的地区模式预报性能差异较大,模式对复杂地形下的对流降水预报偏弱,导致系统强度出现差异,进而影响降水强度预报。     

湖北省夏季引发极端降水的MCS统计特征分析

利用2008—2018年4—9月新一代天气雷达资料,挑选了引发湖北省极端降水过程的70例中尺度对流系统(mesoscale convective systems,MCS),重点研究了线状MCS成熟阶段的时空分布特征,结果表明:(1) 5类线状MCS中邻接层状云降水AS (adjoining stratiform)发生比例最高,前导层状云降水LS (leading stratiform)、平行层状云降水PS (parallel-stratiform)所占比例最少。(2) MCS多集中在6个区域发展,多在武陵山东南侧、大别山南坡、幕阜山北坡及江汉平原一带形成,由生成地向东或东偏南方向移动,部分准静止后向建立型BB (back building)类MCS从发生到消散基本维持在原地。(3)从月季变化来看,6月和7月引发极端强降水的MCS个例最多,4月和9月的个例数最少。(4) MCS的平均生命史为5～8 h,多发于下午至傍晚;夜间、午夜前后为成熟高峰期;极端降水多在夜间发生,松滋、天门和红安市为极端降水多发地。     

宜昌极端短时强降水中尺度对流系统特征分析

利用多普勒天气雷达和区域自动气象站资料以及常规观测资料,分析了2016—2017年宜昌极端短时强降水的环境条件和中尺度对流系统(MCS)的演变与活动特征。结果表明,极端短时强降水发生的形势背景共有三种:斜压锋生、准正压和低层暖平流强迫。在斜压锋生环境中,冷锋南下在宜昌中西部速度变缓,与暖倒槽中暖湿气流多次合并形成锋生,其造成的强烈抬升使MCS中单体质心较高,强回波厚达5～6 km,强的垂直切变导致单体出现悬垂结构,这些环境条件使气流合并时瞬时雨强较大;在气流合并、地形阻挡时对流持续时间较长,造成间歇性、分散性极端短时强降水。准正压Ⅰ型极端短时强降水发生在副热带高压边缘,地面鞍型场中南风气流发展,在地形作用下形成的辐合中心触发并增强对流单体,低质心、塔状、厚度高达7 km的强回波造成的瞬时雨强极大,引导气流较弱及下游山前减弱单体的后向传播效应导致山前的河谷地区对流再次加强,造成时间较短、范围极小而雨强极大的极端短时强降水;准正压Ⅱ型极端短时强降水发生在东风波西移过程中,暖湿的东风气流与边界层偏北气流合并时,导致超低质心的深厚塔状强降水回波,山体东侧过渡带地形使偏北风、偏东风多次合并,因而在过渡带地区造成雨强相对较小而范围较大、持续几个时次的极端短时强降水。在暖平流强迫环境中,西南急流加强时地面发展出辐合线,在辐合线上有向下游倾斜的深厚强回波单体沿着辐合线间隔排列,切变线、辐合线和雨带走向一致,使对流线上单体出现"列车效应",对流单体在对流线的上游新生、加强,向下游移动,在对流线上连续几个时次出现间隔分布的线状极端短时强降水。     

梅雨锋上短时强降水系统的发展模态

利用2010、2011年5～7月我国东部地区梅雨锋盛行期的58次强降水个例,对产生短时强降水的中尺度对流系统回波演变模态及其系统特征进行了统计分析。本文中短时强降水特指小时降水超过30 mm。结果表明,与梅雨锋相伴的短时强降水系统回波演变模态主要为纬向型、经向型、转向型和合并型四类。纬向型、经向型和70%的转向型发展模态中中尺度对流系统（MCS）呈线状,合并型则主要为卵状。纬向型、转向型和合并型MCS以后向传播为主,但它们的生命史、移速和产生强降水持续时间有很大差别:纬向型生命史最长,强降水持续时间比转向型短;三类发展模态中转向型移速最快,生命史较纬向型短,但强降水持续时间最长;合并型移动最慢,生命史最短,强降水持续时间也最短。经向型MCS前向传播为主,移动最快,系统持续史短,约为纬向型的一半,30 mm h-1、50 mm h-1以上强降水持续时间约为转向型的1/3和1/5。纬向型MCS可向东或向南移动,经向型MCS通常向东或向西运动,合并型MCS可往任意方向移动,并且只有该发展模态中MCS会向北运动。虽然转向型MCS带来的短时强降水（尤其50 mm h-1以上）持续时间最长,经向型和合并型MCS产生短时强降水持续时间短,但四类发展模态中MCS的回波强度和回波高度的统计特征无明显区别。推测强降水持续时间可能与MCS的传播关系更加密切:经向型和合并型MCS前向传播占很大比重,生命史和产生的强降水更短;转向型和纬向型MCS的后向传播比重大,尤其转向型中不存在前向传播,对应短时强降水持续时间最长。     

一次春季江淮气旋混合型对流天气特征及成因分析

采用天气雷达、高空地面观测、1°×1°NCEP再分析场资料,分析一次春季江淮气旋形成发展过程中混合型(冰雹、大风、短时强降水)对流天气特征,初步解释了不同类型对流天气形成发展的原因。结果表明:不同类型强对流天气在时空分布和对流特征上存在差异,其中局地冰雹主要由气旋形成阶段离散对流线产生,带状短时强降水由气旋形成阶段人字形对流线上及发展阶段S形对流线后部的列车线/邻接层状云类中尺度对流系统(MCS)产生,大范围大风主要由江淮气旋发展阶段S形对流线上尾随层状云降水类MCS产生。江淮气旋是大尺度天气系统斜压发展的结果,对流活动使锋面低层辐合增强,对气旋形成发展有加强作用。强对流天气的产生与江淮气旋动力热力场有密切关系。气旋形成阶段,西南涡结合山区地形提供了有利于鄂西南大冰雹形成的环境场,暖式切变线以及气旋发展阶段受南支槽影响的冷式切变线,提供有利于风暴列车效应形成的环境场而产生短时强降水;气旋发展阶段,冷式切变线提供有利于后部入流急流形成的环境场而产生大范围大风。     

地形作用下低空急流的演变与强降水对流风暴系统的相互作用

利用雷达、卫星、风廓线雷达和地面加密区域自动气象站等观测资料,分析了2016年入梅后发生在鄂东地区一次极端强降水事件的中尺度对流系统发生发展过程、结构演变及其传播特征,旨在揭示造成强降水过程中的3个中尺度对流系统（MCS）的触发、发展、维持机理以及它们之间内在的中尺度动力学关系,尤其是地形作用下的低空急流的演变与强降水对流风暴系统相互作用过程。研究表明:（1）与大多数梅雨锋上的强降水带与低空切变线平行分布不同,此次极端强降水雨带呈倾斜的“n”字形,其中两条主雨带近乎与低空切变线垂直;此次极端强降水分别由大别山迎风坡上西北—东南向MCS、湖北中东部平原地区西北—东南向MCS和桐柏—大洪山东侧东北—西南向MCS造成。3个MCS移动缓慢,都具有后向传播的特征。（2）大别山迎风坡上MCS初始雷暴是低空急流下边界不断向下扩展过程中在地形抬升作用下触发的,而湖北中东部平原地区的MCS和桐柏—大洪山东侧MCS的触发、发展、加强都与大别山迎风坡上MCS形成的冷池加速推进形成的出流边界与环境气流形成的强烈辐合抬升作用有关。（3）垂直于大别山的边界层西南急流对山坡上的对流冷池产生的顶托作用不仅平衡了冷池密度流产生的向下作用力,而且进一步强化了山区的辐合抬升强度,使得大别山迎风坡上强降水风暴系统得以长时间维持和发展;当山坡上的对流冷池堆积到足够厚度,或者由于低空急流的下边界迅速抬升时,这种平衡被打破,大范围的冷池俯冲下山并在平原地区快速推进,造成了湖北中东部平原地区大范围的雷暴大风和MCS发展加强,并沿冷池前沿逐步组织化,形成平原地区东南—西北向的强降水带。      

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS DATA OF AIR–SEA TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE AND ITS VARIATION ACROSS SOUTH CHINA SEA IN THE PAST 35 YEARS

Using the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set(ICOADS) and ERA-Interim data, spatial distributions of air-sea temperature difference(ASTD) in the South China Sea(SCS) for the past 35 years are compared,and variations of spatial and temporal distributions of ASTD in this region are addressed using empirical orthogonal function decomposition and wavelet analysis methods. The results indicate that both ICOADS and ERA-Interim data can reflect actual distribution characteristics of ASTD in the SCS, but values of ASTD from the ERA-Interim data are smaller than those of the ICOADS data in the same region. In addition, the ASTD characteristics from the ERA-Interim data are not obvious inshore. A seesaw-type, north-south distribution of ASTD is dominant in the SCS; i.e., a positive peak in the south is associated with a negative peak in the north in November, and a negative peak in the south is accompanied by a positive peak in the north during April and May. Interannual ASTD variations in summer or autumn are decreasing. There is a seesaw-type distribution of ASTD between Beibu Bay and most of the SCS in summer, and the center of large values is in the Nansha Islands area in autumn. The ASTD in the SCS has a strong quasi-3a oscillation period in all seasons, and a quasi-11 a period in winter and spring. The ASTD is positively correlated with the Nio3.4 index in summer and autumn but negatively correlated in spring and winter.     

CHARACTERISTICS AND TRENDS OF CLIMATIC EXTREMES IN CHINA DURING 1959–2014

The spatial and temporal variations of daily maximum temperature(Tmax), daily minimum temperature(Tmin), daily maximum precipitation(Pmax) and daily maximum wind speed(WSmax) were examined in China using Mann-Kendall test and linear regression method. The results indicated that for China as a whole, Tmax, Tmin and Pmax had significant increasing trends at rates of 0.15℃ per decade, 0.45℃ per decade and 0.58 mm per decade,respectively, while WSmax had decreased significantly at 1.18 m·s~(-1) per decade during 1959—2014. In all regions of China, Tmin increased and WSmax decreased significantly. Spatially, Tmax increased significantly at most of the stations in South China(SC), northwestern North China(NC), northeastern Northeast China(NEC), eastern Northwest China(NWC) and eastern Southwest China(SWC), and the increasing trends were significant in NC, SC, NWC and SWC on the regional average. Tmin increased significantly at most of the stations in China, with notable increase in NEC, northern and southeastern NC and northwestern and eastern NWC. Pmax showed no significant trend at most of the stations in China, and on the regional average it decreased significantly in NC but increased in SC, NWC and the mid-lower Yangtze River valley(YR). WSmax decreased significantly at the vast majority of stations in China, with remarkable decrease in northern NC, northern and central YR, central and southern SC and in parts of central NEC and western NWC. With global climate change and rapidly economic development, China has become more vulnerable to climatic extremes and meteorological disasters, so more strategies of mitigation and/or adaptation of climatic extremes,such as environmentally-friendly and low-cost energy production systems and the enhancement of engineering defense measures are necessary for government and social publics.     

IMPACT OF ATMOSPHERIC LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATION ON THE IMMIGRATION OF NILAPARVATA LUGENS(STL) IN HUNAN AND JIANGXI PROVINCES

Various features of the atmospheric environment affect the number of migratory insects, besides their initial population. However, little is known about the impact of atmospheric low-frequency oscillation(10 to 90 days) on insect migration. A case study was conducted to ascertain the influence of low-frequency atmospheric oscillation on the immigration of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens(Stl), in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. The results showed the following:(1) The number of immigrating N. lugens from April to June of 2007 through 2016 mainly exhibited a periodic oscillation of 10 to 20 days.(2) The 10-20 d low-frequency number of immigrating N. lugens was significantly correlated with a low-frequency wind field and a geopotential height field at 850 h Pa.(3) During the peak phase of immigration, southwest or south winds served as a driving force and carried N. lugens populations northward, and when in the back of the trough and the front of the ridge, the downward airflow created a favorable condition for N. lugens to land in the study area. In conclusion, the northward migration of N. lugens was influenced by a low-frequency atmospheric circulation based on the analysis of dynamics. This study was the first research connecting atmospheric low-frequency oscillation to insect migration.     

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC CONDITIONS BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE OF TWO TYPES OF EL NIO EVENTS

The atmospheric and oceanic conditions before the onset of EP El Ni?o and CP El Ni?o in nearly 30 years are compared and analyzed by using 850 hPa wind, 20℃ isotherm depth, sea surface temperature and the Wheeler and Hendon index. The results are as follows: In the western equatorial Pacific, the occurrence of the anomalously strong westerly winds of the EP El Ni?o is earlier than that of the CP El Ni?o. Its intensity is far stronger than that of the CP El Ni?o. Two months before the El Ni?o, the anomaly westerly winds of the EP El Ni?o have extended to the eastern Pacific region, while the westerly wind anomaly of the CP El Ni?o can only extend to the west of the dateline three months before the El Ni?o and later stay there. Unlike the EP El Ni?o, the CP El Ni?o is always associated with easterly wind anomaly in the eastern equatorial Pacific before its onset. The thermocline depth anomaly of the EP El Ni?o can significantly move eastward and deepen. In addition, we also find that the evolution of thermocline is ahead of the development of the sea surface temperature for the EP El Ni?o. The strong MJO activity of the EP El Ni?o in the western and central Pacific is earlier than that of the CP El Ni?o. Measured by the standard deviation of the zonal wind square, the intensity of MJO activity of the EP El Ni?o is significantly greater than that of the CP El Ni?o before the onset of El Ni?o.     

ANALYSIS OF “BIMODAL PATTERN” STORM ACTIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BAY OF BENGAL

Storms that occur at the Bay of Bengal (BoB) are of a bimodal pattern, which is different from that of the other sea areas. By using the NCEP, SST and JTWC data, the causes of the bimodal pattern storm activity of the BoB are diagnosed and analyzed in this paper. The result shows that the seasonal variation of general atmosphere circulation in East Asia has a regulating and controlling impact on the BoB storm activity, and the “bimodal period” of the storm activity corresponds exactly to the seasonal conversion period of atmospheric circulation. The minor wind speed of shear spring and autumn contributed to the storm, which was a crucial factor for the generation and occurrence of the “bimodal pattern” storm activity in the BoB. The analysis on sea surface temperature (SST) shows that the SSTs of all the year around in the BoB area meet the conditions required for the generation of tropical cyclones (TCs). However, the SSTs in the central area of the bay are higher than that of the surrounding areas in spring and autumn, which facilitates the occurrence of a “two-peak” storm activity pattern. The genesis potential index (GPI) quantifies and reflects the environmental conditions for the generation of the BoB storms. For GPI, the intense low-level vortex disturbance in the troposphere and high-humidity atmosphere are the sufficient conditions for storms, while large maximum wind velocity of the ground vortex radius and small vertical wind shear are the necessary conditions of storms.     

LOW-FREQUENCY CIRCULATION AND EXTENDED-RANGE FORECAST IN CONNECTION WITH AUTUMN EXTREME HEAVY RAINFALL PROCESS IN HAINAN

Observed daily precipitation data from the National Meteorological Observatory in Hainan province and daily data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis-2 dataset from 1981 to 2014 are used to analyze the relationship between Hainan extreme heavy rainfall processes in autumn (referred to as EHRPs) and 10–30 d low-frequency circulation. Based on the key low-frequency signals and the NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) model forecasting products, a dynamical-statistical method is established for the extended-range forecast of EHRPs. The results suggest that EHRPs have a close relationship with the 10–30 d low-frequency oscillation of 850 hPa zonal wind over Hainan Island and to its north, and that they basically occur during the trough phase of the low-frequency oscillation of zonal wind. The latitudinal propagation of the low-frequency wave train in the middle-high latitudes and the meridional propagation of the low-frequency wave train along the coast of East Asia contribute to the ‘north high (cold), south low (warm)’ pattern near Hainan Island, which results in the zonal wind over Hainan Island and to its north reaching its trough, consequently leading to EHRPs. Considering the link between low-frequency circulation and EHRPs, a low-frequency wave train index (LWTI) is defined and adopted to forecast EHRPs by using NCEP CFSv2 forecasting products. EHRPs are predicted to occur during peak phases of LWTI with value larger than 1 for three or more consecutive forecast days. Hindcast experiments for EHRPs in 2015–2016 indicate that EHRPs can be predicted 8–24 d in advance, with an average period of validity of 16.7 d.     

AN ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN THE BEIJING–TIANJIN–HEBEI REGION UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE

Based on the measurements obtained at 64 national meteorological stations in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region between 1970 and 2013, the potential evapotranspiration (ET0) in this region was estimated using the Penman–Monteith equation and its sensitivity to maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), wind speed (Vw), net radiation (Rn) and water vapor pressure (Pwv) was analyzed, respectively. The results are shown as follows. (1) The climatic elements in the BTH region underwent significant changes in the study period. Vw and Rn decreased significantly, whereas Tmin, Tmax and Pwv increased considerably. (2) In the BTH region, ET0 also exhibited a significant decreasing trend, and the sensitivity of ET0 to the climatic elements exhibited seasonal characteristics. Of all the climatic elements, ET0 was most sensitive to Pwv in the fall and winter and Rn in the spring and summer. On the annual scale, ET0 was most sensitive to Pwv, followed by Rn, Vw, Tmax and Tmin. In addition, the sensitivity coefficient of ET0 with respect to Pwv had a negative value for all the areas, indicating that increases in Pwv can prevent ET0 from increasing. (3) The sensitivity of ET0 to Tmin and Tmax was significantly lower than its sensitivity to other climatic elements. However, increases in temperature can lead to changes in Pwv and Rn. The temperature should be considered the key intrinsic climatic element that has caused the "evaporation paradox" phenomenon in the BTH region.     

Could the Recent Taal Volcano Eruption Trigger an El Ni?o and Lead to Eurasian Warming?

正The Taal Volcano in Luzon is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes of the Philippines. A recent eruption occurred on 12 January 2020(Fig. 1a), and this volcano is still active with the occurrence of volcanic earthquakes. The eruption has become a deep concern worldwide, not only for its damage on local society, but also for potential hazardous consequences on the Earth's climate and environment.     

Revisiting the Concentration Observations and Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Ammonia

正While China’s Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan on particulate matter since 2013 has reduced sulfate significantly, aerosol ammonium nitrate remains high in East China. As the high nitrate abundances are strongly linked with ammonia, reducing ammonia emissions is becoming increasingly important to improve the air quality of China. Although satellite data provide evidence of substantial increases in atmospheric ammonia concentrations over major agricultural regions, long-term surface observation of ammonia concentrations are sparse. In addition, there is still no consensus on