Lei Liu

Acid rain, which has become one of the most severe global environmental issues, is detrimental to plant growth. However, effective methods for monitoring plant responses to acid rain stress are currently lacking. The hyperspectral technique provides a cost-effective and nondestructive way to diagnose acid rain stresses. Taking a widely distributed species (Quercus glauca) in Southern China as an example, this study aims to monitor the hyperspectral responses of Q. glauca to simulated sulfuric acid rain (SAR) and nitric acid rain (NAR). A total of 15 periods of leaf hyperspectral data under four pH levels of SAR and NAR were obtained during the experiment. The results showed that hyperspectral information could be used to distinguish plant responses under acid rain stress. An index (green peak area index, GPAI) was proposed to indicate acid rain stresses, based on the significantly variations in the region of 500–660 nm. Light acid rain (pH 4.5 SAR and NAR) promoted Q. glauca growth relative to the control groups (pH 5.6 SAR and NAR); moderate acid rain (pH 3.0 SAR) firstly promoted and then inhibited plant growth, while pH 3.0 NAR showed mild inhibitory effects during the experiment; and heavy acid rain (pH 2.0) significantly inhibited plant growth. Compared with NAR, SAR induced more serious damages to Q. glauca. These results could help monitor acid rain stress on plants on a regional scale using remote sensing techniques.

As a primary basic gas in the atmosphere, atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) plays an important role in determining air quality, environmental degradation, and climate change. However, the limited ground observation currently presents a barrier to estimating ground NH₃ concentrations on a regional scale, thus preventing a full understanding of the atmospheric processes in which this trace gas is involved. This study estimated the ground NH₃ concentrations over China, combining the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite NH₃ columns and NH₃ profiles from an atmospheric chemistry transport model (CTM). The estimated ground NH₃ concentrations showed agreement with the variability in annual ground NH₃ measurements from the Chinese Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN). Great spatial heterogeneity of ground NH₃ concentrations was found across China, and high ground NH₃ concentrations were found in Northern China, Southeastern China, and some areas in Xinjiang Province. The maximum ground NH₃ concentrations over China occurred in summer, followed by spring, autumn, and winter seasons, which were in agreement with the seasonal patterns of NH₃ emissions in China. This study suggested that a combination of NH₃ profiles from CTMs and NH₃ columns from satellite obtained reliable ground NH₃ concentrations over China.