Source Apportionment of Urban GHGs in Hong Kong from Regional Transportation Based on Diagnostic Ratio Method

Yiwei Xu, Jie Wang (), Libin Zhu, Aka W. L. Chiu, Wilson B. C. Tsui, Giuseppe Y. H. Mak, Na Ma and Jie Qin
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Yiwei Xu: Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230061, China
Jie Wang: Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230061, China
Libin Zhu: Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230061, China
Aka W. L. Chiu: PTC International Limited, Hong Kong, China
Wilson B. C. Tsui: PTC International Limited, Hong Kong, China
Giuseppe Y. H. Mak: PTC International Limited, Hong Kong, China
Na Ma: Institute of Environment, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China
Jie Qin: Institute of Environment, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-21

Abstract: Quantifying the regional source of long-lived ozone precursors (especially GHGs) transported to Hong Kong is hampered by sparse observational data and computational limitations. This study introduces an observation-driven analytical framework that integrates a tracer ratio (ethylbenzene/m,p-xylene), wind–source–distance correlations to constrain transport corridors, and inventory mapping to determine the province- and sector-specific contributions, operationalized by identifying transport periods from observations, classifying sources with diagnostic ratios into five emission categories, deriving seasonal weighting factors via frequency normalization, mapping high-resolution inventory classes to these categories to restructure sectoral inventories, and combining normalized provincial spatial weights with the restructured inventories to quantify cross-boundary CO 2 and CH 4 emissions by sector and region. High-resolution measurements were conducted at the Cape D’Aguilar Supersite (CDSS), which showed dominant wintertime regional transport with mean concentrations of 435.29 ± 7.64 ppm (CO 2 ) and 2083.45 ± 56.50 ppb (CH 4 ). Thirteen transport periods were quantitatively analyzed, and province–sector contributions were estimated. The dominant provincial contributors were Guangdong (20.66%), followed by Jiangxi (18.36%) and Zhejiang (11.15%). Motor vehicles (70%), fuel combustion (15%), and solvent use (10%) were the primary contributing sectors. The framework enables province- and sector-specific attribution under stated assumptions and provides a tool for measuring cross-boundary mitigation and developing air quality and climate strategies in monsoon-affected coastal cities.

Keywords: diagnostic ratios; greenhouse gases (GHGs); regional transport; emission inventory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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