Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China

Abstract Cold wave (CW) systems in China, driven by strong northerly winds, typically clean the atmosphere but can also transport pollutants. However, elevated PM2.5 and O3 levels often precede CW events, with key processes remaining unclear. This study analyzes over 2000 in-situ observations (2014–...

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Main Authors: Min Shao, Changhui Xu, Shun Lv, Xueren Jin, Qing Mu, Jialei Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01088-8
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author Min Shao
Changhui Xu
Shun Lv
Xueren Jin
Qing Mu
Jialei Zhu
author_facet Min Shao
Changhui Xu
Shun Lv
Xueren Jin
Qing Mu
Jialei Zhu
author_sort Min Shao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cold wave (CW) systems in China, driven by strong northerly winds, typically clean the atmosphere but can also transport pollutants. However, elevated PM2.5 and O3 levels often precede CW events, with key processes remaining unclear. This study analyzes over 2000 in-situ observations (2014–2022), atmospheric reanalysis, and WRF-CAMx simulations to examine CW impacts on air pollution over eastern China. A three-day compressional heating period before CW events alters planetary boundary layer (PBL) dynamics, influencing pollutant levels. PM2.5 is driven by wind speed, PBL height (PBLH), and mean sea level pressure (MSLP), while O3 is influenced by temperature, humidity, solar radiation, PBLH, and MSLP. Though CWs generally clean the air on the day of its arrival, ~18% of cases show increased PM2.5 due to enhanced secondary formation and suppressed PBLH. Numerical simulations reveal CW-induced long-range pollutant transport and highlight critical meteorological-pollution interactions before CW events.
format Article
id doaj-art-903d8aabb44748eb8a3eac7202573be7
institution Kabale University
issn 2397-3722
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
spelling doaj-art-903d8aabb44748eb8a3eac7202573be72025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222025-05-018111410.1038/s41612-025-01088-8Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern ChinaMin Shao0Changhui Xu1Shun Lv2Xueren Jin3Qing Mu4Jialei Zhu5School of Environment, Nanjing Normal UniversitySchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal UniversitySchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal UniversitySchool of Environment, Nanjing Normal UniversityDepartment of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool UniversityInstitute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversityAbstract Cold wave (CW) systems in China, driven by strong northerly winds, typically clean the atmosphere but can also transport pollutants. However, elevated PM2.5 and O3 levels often precede CW events, with key processes remaining unclear. This study analyzes over 2000 in-situ observations (2014–2022), atmospheric reanalysis, and WRF-CAMx simulations to examine CW impacts on air pollution over eastern China. A three-day compressional heating period before CW events alters planetary boundary layer (PBL) dynamics, influencing pollutant levels. PM2.5 is driven by wind speed, PBL height (PBLH), and mean sea level pressure (MSLP), while O3 is influenced by temperature, humidity, solar radiation, PBLH, and MSLP. Though CWs generally clean the air on the day of its arrival, ~18% of cases show increased PM2.5 due to enhanced secondary formation and suppressed PBLH. Numerical simulations reveal CW-induced long-range pollutant transport and highlight critical meteorological-pollution interactions before CW events.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01088-8
spellingShingle Min Shao
Changhui Xu
Shun Lv
Xueren Jin
Qing Mu
Jialei Zhu
Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
title_full Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
title_fullStr Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
title_short Mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5 evolution along the cold wave passage in Eastern China
title_sort mechanisms of o3 and pm2 5 evolution along the cold wave passage in eastern china
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01088-8
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