A Case Study on the Impact of East Asian Summer Monsoon on Surface O3 in China

The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) was extremely strong in 2018, which substantially affected surface ozone (O-3) in China. Taking 2018 and the average synthesis of 2003 and 2010 to represent the strong and weak EASM cases, respectively, GEOS-Chem with constant anthropogenic emission was employed to investigate the impact of the EASM on surface O-3 in the east of China. Simulations show that surface O-3 decreased in the northeast and the eastern coast of China and increased in most of the remaining regions during strong EASM. The difference in surface O-3 between strong and weak EASM was around -15 similar to 7 ppbv. After analyzing relevant meteorological fields, it is found that the decrease in northeast China was mainly attributed to the large increase in vertical upward transport. The considerable decrease in the Huang-Huai-Hai region depended on the dilution and diffusion of eastward anomalous horizontal circulation. The increase in Hunan-Hubei-Guangdong Province was largely due to input from the north. In addition, the vast areas between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River were supported by higher temperatures and stronger shortwave solar radiation that promoted photochemical reactions. The reasons for changes in Shanxi-Sichuan-Yunnan Province were relatively more complex and thus require more in-depth exploration.

Automated summary

The East Asian summer monsoon had a significant impact on surface ozone in China in 2018. The strong monsoon led to a decrease in surface ozone in the northeast and eastern coast of China, while most other regions experienced an increase in ozone levels.