The interaction between urbanization and aerosols during a typical winter haze event in Beijing

Aerosols cause cooling at the surface by reducing shortwave radiation, while urbanization causes warming by altering the surface albedo and releasing anthropogenic heat. The combined effect of the two phenomena needs to be studied in depth. The effects of urbanization and aerosols were investigated during a typical winter haze event. The event, which occurred in Beijing from 15 to 22 December 2016, was studied via the Rapid-Refresh Multiscale Analysis and Prediction System - Short Term (RMAPS-ST) model. The mechanisms of the impacts of aerosols and urbanization were analyzed and quantified. Aerosols reduced urban-related warming during the daytime by 20 % (from 30 % to 50 %) as concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased from 200 to 400 mu g m(-3). Conversely, aerosols also enhanced urban-related warming at dawn, and the increment was approximately 28 %, which contributed to haze formation. Urbanization reduced the aerosol-related cooling effect by approximately 54 % during the haze event, and the strength of the impact changed little with increasing aerosol content. The impact of aerosols on urban-related warming was more significant than the impact of urbanization on aerosol-related cooling. Aerosols decreased the urban impact on the mixing-layer height by 148 % and on the sensible heat flux by 156 %. Furthermore, aerosols decreased the latent heat flux; however, this reduction decreased by 48.8 % due to urbanization. The impact of urbanization on the transport of pollutants was more important than that of aerosols. The interaction between urbanization and aerosols may enhance the accumulation of pollution and weigh against diffusion.