Particulate Matter: Source and Concentrations
A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 September 2026 | Viewed by 527
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Particulate matter (PM), a complex mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air, is a critical air pollutant with profound impacts on human health, climate, and ecosystems. Its sources are diverse, ranging from direct emissions (e.g., combustion, dust, industrial processes) to secondary formation in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving precursor gases. The concentration of PM in the atmosphere is governed by a dynamic interplay between emissions, atmospheric transport, chemical transformation, and removal processes such as deposition. Understanding the intricate pathways from source to ambient concentration remains a significant scientific challenge, particularly due to the multiscale nature of these processes and the multiphysics interactions involving chemistry, turbulence, radiation, and cloud microphysics.
This Special Issue aims to collate original research that advances the mechanistic understanding of particulate matter sources and the physical and dynamical processes controlling their atmospheric concentrations. We seek studies that elucidate the links between emissions, atmospheric processing, and the resulting spatiotemporal distribution of PM, with a focus on bridging scales and integrating physical and chemical phenomena. The goal is to improve predictive capabilities for air quality management and exposure assessment. We welcome theoretical, modeling, observational, and experimental contributions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Characterization and quantification of primary PM emissions;
- Formation and aging mechanisms of secondary PM;
- Source apportionment techniques and studies;
- Multiscale modeling and measurement of PM dispersion and evolution;
- Interactions between PM dynamics and meteorology/climate;
- Long-range transport and transboundary pollution.
Prof. Dr. Lina Zheng
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- particulate matter
- source apportionment techniques
- long-range transport
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
