Identification of close relationship between large-scale circulation patterns and ozone-precursor sensitivity in the Pearl River Delta, China

Yi Du; Kaihui Zhao; Zibing Yuan; Huihong Luo; Wei Ma; Xuehui Liu; Long Wang; Chenghao Liao; Yongbo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114915

Identification of close relationship between large-scale circulation patterns and ozone-precursor sensitivity in the Pearl River Delta, China

J Environ Manage. 2022 Jun 15:312:114915. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114915. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Yi Du¹, Kaihui Zhao², Zibing Yuan³, Huihong Luo¹, Wei Ma¹, Xuehui Liu¹, Long Wang⁴, Chenghao Liao⁴, Yongbo Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
² School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: khzhao@scut.edu.cn.
³ School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: zibing@scut.edu.cn.
⁴ Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China.

PMID: 35313148
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114915

Abstract

To curb the continuous deterioration of ozone (O₃) pollution in China, identifying the O₃-precursor sensitivity (OPS) and its driving factors is a prerequisite for formulating effective O₃ pollution control measures. Traditional OPS identification methods have limitations in terms of spatiotemporal representation and timeliness; therefore, they are not appropriate for making OPS forecasts for O₃ contingency control. OPS is not only influenced by local precursor emissions but is also closely related to meteorological conditions governed by large-scale circulation (LSC). In this study, a localized three-dimensional numerical modeling system was used to investigate the relationship between LSC and OPS in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) of China during September 2017, a month with continuous O₃ pollution. Our results highlighted that there was a close relationship between LSC and OPS over the PRD, and the four dominant LSC patterns corresponded well to the NO_x-limited, NO_x-limited, VOC-limited, and transitional regimes, respectively. The clear linkage between LSC and OPS was mainly driven by the spatial heterogeneity of NO_x and VOC emissions within and beyond the PRD along the prevailing winds under different LSC patterns. A conceptual model was developed to highlight the intrinsic causality between the LSC and OPS. Because current technology can accurately forecast LSC 48-72 h in advance, the LSC-based OPS forecast method provided us with a novel approach to guide contingency control and management measures to reduce peak O₃ at a regional scale.

Keywords: Emissions control; Large-scale circulations; O(3)-precursor sensitivity; Pearl River Delta; Regional transport.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution*
China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Ozone* / analysis
Rivers
Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Volatile Organic Compounds
Ozone