Long-term variations in surface ozone at the Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station in Northeast China and related influencing factors

Xiaoyi Zhang; Jingmin Sun; Weili Lin; Wanyun Xu; Gen Zhang; Yanling Wu; Xin Dai; Jinrong Zhao; Dajiang Yu; Xiaobin Xu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123748

Long-term variations in surface ozone at the Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station in Northeast China and related influencing factors

Environ Pollut. 2024 May 1:348:123748. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123748. Epub 2024 Mar 7.

Authors

Xiaoyi Zhang¹, Jingmin Sun², Weili Lin³, Wanyun Xu⁴, Gen Zhang⁴, Yanling Wu², Xin Dai², Jinrong Zhao², Dajiang Yu⁵, Xiaobin Xu⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Composition, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
² Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station, China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Heilongjiang, 150200, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Composition, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
⁵ Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station, China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Heilongjiang, 150200, China. Electronic address: yu_dajiang@163.com.

PMID: 38460592
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123748

Abstract

Surface ozone (O₃) is a crucial air pollutant that affects air quality, human health, agricultural production, and climate change. Studies on long-term O₃ variations and their influencing factors are essential for understanding O₃ pollution and its impact. Here, we conducted an analysis of long-term variations in O₃ during 2006-2022 at the Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station (LFS; 44.44°N, 127.36°E, 330.5 m a.s.l.) situated on the northeastern edge of the Northeast China Plains. The maximum daily 8-h average (MDA8) O₃ fluctuated substantially, with the annual MDA8 decreasing significantly during 2006-2015 (-0.62 ppb yr^-1, p < 0.05), jumping during 2015-2016 and increasing clearly during 2020-2022. Step multiple linear regression models for MDA8 were obtained using meteorological variables, to decompose anthropogenic and meteorological contributions to O₃ variations. Anthropogenic activities acted as the primary drivers of the long-term trends of MDA8 O₃, contributing 73% of annual MDA8 O₃ variability, whereas meteorology played less important roles (27%). Elevated O₃ at LFS were primarily associated with airflows originating from the North China Plain, Northeast China Plain, and coastal areas of North China, primarily occurring during the warm months (May-October). Based on satellite products of NO₂ and HCHO columns, the O₃ photochemical regimes over LFS revealed NO_x-limited throughout the period. NO₂ increased first, reaching peak in 2011, followed by substantial decrease; while HCHO exhibited significant increase, contributing to decreasing trend in MDA8 O₃ during 2006-2015. The plateauing NO₂ and decreasing HCHO may contribute to the increase in MDA8 O₃ in 2016. Subsequently, both NO₂ and HCHO exhibited notable fluctuations, leading to significant changes in O₃. The study results fill the gap in the understanding of long-term O₃ trends in high-latitude areas in the Northeast China Plain and offer valuable insights for assessing the impact of O₃ on crop yields, forest productivity, and climate change.

Keywords: Background ozone; Influencing factors; Long-term trend; Northeast China.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Atmosphere / analysis
China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Humans
Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
Ozone* / analysis

Substances

Ozone
Nitrogen Dioxide
Air Pollutants