Statistical analysis of the relationships between boundary layer meteorological processes and nocturnal O3 increases in Beijing from 2018 to 2022

Abstract

In the absence of photochemical reactions, nocturnal ozone (O3) variation was found to be caused by boundary layer meteorological processes. In addition to low-level jet (LLJ) and convective storm (CS) events, cold front and foehn processes also cause nocturnal O3 increases (NOIs). The subsidence warming effect (Subsi.) caused by weak cold front and foehn processes cause the nocturnal surface temperature and O3 to increase. Statistical analysis revealed that NOI days accounted for 39.4 ± 6.4% of the total number of days per year in Beijing, and the average occurrence frequency decreased by 1.7%/year over a recent five-year period (2018–2022). The LLJ process is the primary factor causing NOIs, and the average annual contributions of the LLJ, CS and Subsi. processes to NOIs were approximately 32.2 ± 10.5%, 11.7 ± 2.3% and 8.0 ± 3.0%, respectively. From a seasonal point of view, the most NOI events occurred in summer, and the least occurred in autumn. LLJs contributed the most to the NOIs in each season, and the CS contribution was almost equal to that of LLJs in summer. LLJs that occurred near 00:00 LT and 04:00 LT had a greater probability of causing NOI events. Most of the nocturnal CS events occurred during 22:00 LT-02:00 LT (next day), and the contribution of CSs to NOIs fluctuated around 10.0%. More than half (68.0%) of the Subsi. events occurred during 23:00 LT-03:00 LT (next day). Subsi. events occurred during this period contributed more to NOIs than other periods. Meteorological processes more easily caused NOI events in the urban, Daxing and Tongzhou districts than other areas. The average surface O3 concentration during the early morning hours (04:00–06:00 LT) on NOI days was 8.8 ± 3.2 μg/m3 higher than that on non-NOI days, suggesting that NOIs can elevate the base O3 concentration during the following day.