Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-6-2026
Department
Department of Physics; Department of Chemistry
Abstract
The impacts of haze on visibility, air quality, and climate are not well quantified due to a lack of understanding of the evolution of the mixing state and phase state of atmospheric particles during haze processing. The variability of the mixing state of atmospheric particles contributes significantly to uncertainties associated with the estimated aerosol radiative forcing. We collected particle samples in January 2018 from the highly polluted Indo-Gangetic plain during hazy conditions to study haze-processed particles. Single particle analysis using multi-modal micro-spectroscopy techniques revealed an abundance (40–70% by number) of potassium-rich sulfate particles from biomass-burning influenced smoke. Tilted view imaging showed that most of the organic particles that had inorganic potassium and sulfate inclusions were liquid-like while those without inclusions were more semi-solid. High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis revealed a significant presence of organosulfates and nitroxy-organosulfates in the morning samples (24%) compared to the afternoon samples (9%), despite higher relative humidity in the afternoon. Overall, our results highlight the significant contribution of both organic and inorganic sulfate to the total particulate sulfur budget during haze processing in winter, when anthropogenic emissions such as household burning, agricultural burning, and vehicular emissions are major contributors to particle mass.
Publication Title
Environmental Science Atmospheres
Recommended Citation
Mathai, S.,
Ijaz, A.,
Gautam, T.,
Cheng, Z.,
Lata, N.,
Bhotika, H.,
Tseng, D.,
Chu, R.,
Mazzoleni, L.,
Mazzoleni, C.,
&
China, S.
(2026).
Haze processing of atmospheric particles during wintertime in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Environmental Science Atmospheres,
6(2), 139-151.
http://doi.org/10.1039/d5ea00150a
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2331
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EA00150A