Effects of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic precursors on ground-level ozone concentrations in Chinese cities

Pengfei Liu; Hongquan Song; Tuanhui Wang; Feng Wang; Xiaoyang Li; Changhong Miao; Haipeng Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114366

Effects of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic precursors on ground-level ozone concentrations in Chinese cities

Environ Pollut. 2020 Jul:262:114366. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114366. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Authors

Pengfei Liu¹, Hongquan Song², Tuanhui Wang³, Feng Wang³, Xiaoyang Li³, Changhong Miao⁴, Haipeng Zhao³

Affiliations

¹ Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China; Institute of Urban Big Data, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
² Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Integrated Air Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China; Institute of Urban Big Data, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China; Institute of Urban Big Data, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
⁴ Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China.

PMID: 32443214
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114366

Abstract

Ground-level ozone pollution has negative impacts on human health and vegetation and has increased rapidly across China. Various factors are implicated in the formation of ozone (e.g., meteorological factors, anthropogenic emissions), but their relative individual impact and the impact of interactions between these factors remains unclear. This study quantified the influence of specific meteorological conditions and anthropogenic precursor emissions and their interactions on ozone concentrations in Chinese cities using the geographic detector model (GeoDetector). Results revealed that the impacts of meteorological and anthropogenic factors and their interactions on ozone concentrations varied significantly at different spatial and temporal scales. Temperature was the dominant driver at the annual time scale, explaining 40% (q = 0.4) of the ground-level ozone concentration. Anthropogenic precursors and meteorological conditions had comparable effects on ozone concentrations in summer and winter in northern China. Interactions between all the factors can enhance effects. The interaction between meteorological factors and anthropogenic precursors had the strongest impact in summer. The results can be used to enhance our understanding of ozone pollution, to improve ozone prediction models, and to formulate pollution control measures.

Keywords: Air pollution; China; GeoDetector model; Interactive effects; Tropospheric ozone.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Air Pollution / analysis*
China
Cities
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Ozone / analysis*
Seasons

Substances

Air Pollutants
Ozone