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Sustainability
Volume 17
Issue 16
10.3390/su17167217
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Article

Perturbations of Aerosol Radiative Forcing on the Planetary Boundary Layer Thermal Dynamics in a Central China Megacity

by
Zengshou Liu
1,†,
Mingjie Zhang
2,3,4,†,
Haijiang Kong
3,5,6,
Yanzhen Kang
7,*,
Ruirui Si
3,6,8,*,
Lingbin Kong
1,
Wenyu Zhang
1,
Xuanyu Zhang
2,3,9,
Hangfei Hu
3,10 and
Zixuan Wang
7
1
School of Geoscience and Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
2
Hebi Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology and Remote Sensing, Hebi 458030, China
3
Anyang National Climate Observatory, Anyang 455000, China
4
Puyang Meteorological Office, Puyang 457000, China
5
Henan Provincial Meteorological Center, Zhengzhou 450003, China
6
Henan Key Laboratory of Integrated Air Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
7
College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
8
Henan Provincial Climate Centre, Zhengzhou 450003, China
9
Songshan National Atmospheric Background Station, Dengfeng 452470, China
10
Anyang Meteorological Office, Anyang 455000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7217; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167217 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 21 June 2025 / Revised: 4 August 2025 / Accepted: 6 August 2025 / Published: 9 August 2025
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Aerosol radiative forcing is known to significantly disturb the thermodynamic and dynamic structure of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL), particularly in heavily polluted urban regions. In this study, the effects of aerosol–PBL interactions were examined over a megacity in China’s Central Plains by comparing ERA5 reanalysis data with multi-source ground-based observations. Key meteorological variables—including wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity—were analyzed across pressure levels from 1000 to 800 hPa. Good agreement in wind direction was observed between ERA5 and observations (R2 > 0.84), while wind speed showed a moderate correlation (R2 = 0.54–0.73) with an RMSE of 1.85 m/s near 975 hPa. Temperature discrepancies were found to decrease with altitude, with RMSE values reducing from 3.02 K to 1.84 K, indicating a modulation of thermal stratification by aerosol radiative effects. A stable structure was revealed by humidity analysis near the surface but increased variability aloft, with absolute differences reaching ±30% at 850–800 hPa. Diurnal variations were characterized by night-time warming of up to +5 °C in the lower PBL and concurrent cooling above 800 hPa. The Heating and surface Dimming (HD) Index was found to correlate positively with PM2.5 concentration (R = 0.60), reflecting increased thermal stability and vertical inhomogeneity under aerosol loading. These findings underscore the need for an improved understanding and mitigation of aerosol–PBL interactions to support sustainable urban air quality management strategies.
Keywords: aerosol radiative forcing; planetary boundary layer; ERA5 reanalysis; thermodynamic disturbances; dynamic disturbances aerosol radiative forcing; planetary boundary layer; ERA5 reanalysis; thermodynamic disturbances; dynamic disturbances

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, Z.; Zhang, M.; Kong, H.; Kang, Y.; Si, R.; Kong, L.; Zhang, W.; Zhang, X.; Hu, H.; Wang, Z. Perturbations of Aerosol Radiative Forcing on the Planetary Boundary Layer Thermal Dynamics in a Central China Megacity. Sustainability 2025, 17, 7217. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167217

AMA Style

Liu Z, Zhang M, Kong H, Kang Y, Si R, Kong L, Zhang W, Zhang X, Hu H, Wang Z. Perturbations of Aerosol Radiative Forcing on the Planetary Boundary Layer Thermal Dynamics in a Central China Megacity. Sustainability. 2025; 17(16):7217. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167217

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Zengshou, Mingjie Zhang, Haijiang Kong, Yanzhen Kang, Ruirui Si, Lingbin Kong, Wenyu Zhang, Xuanyu Zhang, Hangfei Hu, and Zixuan Wang. 2025. "Perturbations of Aerosol Radiative Forcing on the Planetary Boundary Layer Thermal Dynamics in a Central China Megacity" Sustainability 17, no. 16: 7217. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167217

APA Style

Liu, Z., Zhang, M., Kong, H., Kang, Y., Si, R., Kong, L., Zhang, W., Zhang, X., Hu, H., & Wang, Z. (2025). Perturbations of Aerosol Radiative Forcing on the Planetary Boundary Layer Thermal Dynamics in a Central China Megacity. Sustainability, 17(16), 7217. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167217

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