The paper entitled “Characterization of submicron aerosols during a month of serious pollution in Beijing, 2013” was published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (IF=5.543), which was written by Prof. Wang Yuesi research group (SCAS/LAPC, IAP). Meanwhile, this paper has been recommended as scientific highlight paper appeared on a "Journal Highlights" section on the European Geosciences Union (http://www.egu.eu/publications/highlighted-papers/?page=2&journal=acp&limit=10).  

In this study, the first author Dr. Zhang Junke used a HR-TOF-AMS in Beijing city to measure airborne submicron particles (PM₁) during January 2013. Then they combined those results with meteorological factors and the hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) model finished an in-depth analysis, and found that: (1) The range of NR-PM₁ mass concentrations was broad; values ranging from 3.3 to 423 μg m^？3 were observed, and the mean mass concentration was 89.3±85.6 μg m^？3. Organics were the most abundant NR-PM₁ species on average, accounting for 50% of the total mass. (2) Due to the uniqueness of Chinese style cooking habits and culture, cooking emissions is a major organic aerosol (OA) sources in Beijing, accounted for 18 % of the OA during polluted days (Figure 1). (3) The pollutants emission in Beijing southerly regions is critical for the formation of heavy haze in Beijing, and these pollutants mainly by secondary inorganic and organic components. (4) The contributions of inorganic species and secondary OA (SOA) components were all increased significantly (Figure 1) and the aerosol acidity and oxidation were all stronger in polluted period.