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Distribution and urban–suburban differences in ground-level ozone and its precursors over Shenyang, China

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Abstract

Hourly mixing ratio data of ground-level ozone and its main precursors at ambient air quality monitoring sites in Shenyang during 2013–2015 were used to survey spatiotemporal variations in ozone. Then, the transport of ozone and its precursors among urban, suburban, and rural sites was examined. The correlations between ozone and some key meteorological factors were also investigated. Ozone and Ox mixing ratios in Shenyang were higher during warm seasons and lower during cold ones, while ozone precursors followed the opposite cycle. Ozone mixing ratios reached maximum and minimum values in the afternoon and morning, respectively, reflecting the significant influence of photochemical production during daytime and depletion via titration during nighttime. Compared to those in downtown Shenyang, ozone mixing ratios were higher and the occurrence of peak values were later in suburban and rural areas downwind of the prevailing wind. The differences were most significant in summer, when the ozone mixing ratios at one suburban downwind site reached a maximum value of 35.6 ppb higher than those at the downtown site. This suggests that photochemical production processes were significant during the transport of ozone precursors, particularly in warm seasons with sufficient sunlight. Temperature, total radiation, and wind speed all displayed positive correlations with ozone concentration, reflecting their important role in accelerating ozone formation. Generally, the correlations between ozone and meteorological factors were slightly stronger at suburban sites than in urban areas, indicating that ozone levels in suburban areas were more sensitive to these meteorological factors.

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Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciated Wanyun Xu from Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences for her helpful suggestions. This work is supported by LAC/CMA under Grant 2017B02 and the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant 41605081 and 41375146.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China

    Ningwei Liu

  2. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China

    Ningwei Liu

  3. Institute of Atmospheric Environment, China Meteorological Administration, Shenyang, China

    Ningwei Liu, Xiaolan Li & Yunhai Zhang

  4. Shenyang Environmental Monitoring Central Station, Shenyang, China

    Wanhui Ren

  5. Fuxin Meteorological Bureau, Fuxin, China

    Xiaogang Ma

  6. Fushun Meteorological Bureau, Fushun, China

    Bingkun Li

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  1. Ningwei Liu
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  2. Wanhui Ren
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Correspondence to Ningwei Liu.

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Responsible Editor: S. Trini Castelli.

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Liu, N., Ren, W., Li, X. et al. Distribution and urban–suburban differences in ground-level ozone and its precursors over Shenyang, China. Meteorol Atmos Phys 131, 669–679 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-018-0598-1

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