Zheng et al. (2026) Aerosol modulation of precipitation systems migrating from mountains to plains in Northern China during early autumn

Identification

• Journal: Atmospheric Research
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-21
• Authors: Yu Zheng, Yucong Miao, Shuhua Liu, Huizheng Che
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109289

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Meteorological Science and Technology (LaSW) & Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China.
• Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Short Summary

This study demonstrates that aerosols invigorate peak precipitation events as weather systems migrate from mountains to the North China Plain, driven by latent heat release and modulated by topographic transport mechanisms.

Objective

• To investigate the impact of aerosol pollution on precipitation systems migrating from mountainous regions to the plains in Northern China during early autumn.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Northern China, specifically the transition from mountains to the North China Plain).
• Temporal Scale: Early autumn 2021.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Coupled meteorology-chemistry simulations.
• Data sources: Comprehensive observational datasets (used for model validation).

Main Results

• Net Effect: While synoptic forcing is the primary driver, aerosols exert a net invigorating effect on peak precipitation events over the plains.
• Temporal/Spatial Patterns: The aerosol impact is spatially heterogeneous and follows a diurnal cycle, peaking during the afternoon (highest convective instability) and persisting into the evening.
• Microphysical Mechanism: Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation is the dominant pathway; this enhances ice-phase processes and latent heat release, which strengthens updrafts and overrides opposing radiative effects.
• Topographic Modulation: Topography influences the process via two mechanisms:
  1. Terrain blocking: Concentrates pollutants within the plains.
  2. Mountain chimney effect: Transports aerosols to elevated layers through daytime upslope flows and downslope advection from highland sources.

Contributions

• The study highlights the essential role of three-dimensional topographic modulation in aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions, specifically identifying how terrain-driven transport (blocking and chimney effects) creates conditions for aerosol-induced invigoration.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zheng2026Aerosol,
  author = {Zheng, Yu and Miao, Yucong and Liu, Shuhua and Che, Huizheng},
  title = {Aerosol modulation of precipitation systems migrating from mountains to plains in Northern China during early autumn},
  journal = {Atmospheric Research},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109289},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109289}
}