Persistent ozone pollution episodes in North China exacerbated by regional transport

Abstract

Summertime ozone (O3) concentrations over China continue to increase although the governmental Clear Air Actions have been carried out since 2013. The worst O3 pollution is confronted over North China Plain. Ozone polluted days (with observed regionally-averaged maximum daily 8-h average (MDA8) O3 concentrations exceeding 80 ppbv) in May–July in North China increased from 35 days in year 2014 to 56 days in year 2018, and persistent O3 pollution episodes that lasted for 5 days or longer (OPEs5) contributed 14.3% and 66.1% to those O3 polluted days in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Model simulations suggest that O3 transport from central eastern China (including Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces) contributes 36% of the enhanced O3 concentrations in North China during OPEs5 relative to the seasonal mean. We find that emission control of volatile organic compounds in central eastern China is most effective to alleviate intensity of OPEs5 in North China.