Particulate Matter: Emission, Control and Frontier
A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 December 2026 | Viewed by 193
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Particulate matter (PM) remains one of the most critical air pollutants affecting climate, ecosystems, and human health worldwide. Despite decades of research, significant challenges persist in accurately characterizing PM sources, understanding its spatial and temporal variability, and quantifying population exposure, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions and data-scarce environments, like low- and middle-income countries. Recent advances in measurement techniques, source apportionment methods, air quality modeling, and the integration of satellite observations and low-cost sensor networks provide new opportunities to address these challenges.
In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward cutting-edge components of particulate pollution, including condensable particulate matter (CPM), black carbon (BC) aerosols, secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), and other climate-relevant short-lived climate forcers. These components play critical roles in atmospheric chemistry, radiative forcing, cloud interactions, and public health impacts, yet remain insufficiently characterized in many regions.
The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together state-of-the-art research focused on the sources, concentrations, and distribution of particulate matter across multiple spatial scales. We seek contributions that improve the understanding of PM formation, emission sources, and factors controlling PM variability, as well as studies that enhance monitoring and modeling capabilities. We also encourage contributions addressing the formation mechanisms, emission characterization, atmospheric transformation, and control technologies of condensable particulate matter and black carbon, as well as their roles in climate change mitigation and air quality co-benefits.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Characterization of PM (PM₁, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀) mass, composition, and size distribution;
- Condensable particulate matter (CPM) measurement, emission factors, and regulatory implications;
- Black carbon aerosols: sources, optical properties, climate forcing, and mitigation strategies;
- Secondary aerosol formation processes and atmospheric transformation pathways;
- Source apportionment and emission source identification;
- Urban, regional, and remote PM concentration patterns;
- Integration of ground-based measurements, satellite data, and low-cost sensors;
- Air quality modeling and exposure assessment related to PM;
- Implications for air quality management and policy.
Dr. Hebe Carreras
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- low-cost sensors
- urban air quality
- human exposure air quality models
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