Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts

Abstract Using a decade of observations and chemistry‐climate model simulations (2014–2023), we highlight the key role of biosphere‐atmosphere interactions in driving late summer–autumn ozone pollution extremes over Southeast China during hot droughts. In the 2019 and 2022 droughts, stomatal closure...

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Main Authors: Meiyun Lin, Yuanyu Xie, Isabelle DeSmedt, Larry W. Horowitz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114934
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author Meiyun Lin
Yuanyu Xie
Isabelle DeSmedt
Larry W. Horowitz
author_facet Meiyun Lin
Yuanyu Xie
Isabelle DeSmedt
Larry W. Horowitz
author_sort Meiyun Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Using a decade of observations and chemistry‐climate model simulations (2014–2023), we highlight the key role of biosphere‐atmosphere interactions in driving late summer–autumn ozone pollution extremes over Southeast China during hot droughts. In the 2019 and 2022 droughts, stomatal closure in the Yangtze River Basin, caused by soil moisture deficits, led to ∼60% reductions in ozone deposition rates to vegetation, aligning with reduced photosynthesis inferred from satellite remote sensing of solar induced fluorescence. Ozone production increased due to higher isoprene emissions from heat stress, NOx‐rich airflow from North China, and enhanced solar radiation. Soil drought intensified temperatures and increased isoprene emissions by 27%, but these only had marginal impact on ozone (<5 ppbv) in South China, where ozone formation is NOx‐limited. Reduced ozone uptake by drought‐stressed vegetation played a dominant role, driving 10–20 ppbv increases in daily maximum 8‐hr average ozone concentrations and a threefold rise in events exceeding 100 ppbv.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-9b895a2068ed4d40aa632d38cdf50dd42025-08-20T02:56:34ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01528n/an/a10.1029/2025GL114934Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot DroughtsMeiyun Lin0Yuanyu Xie1Isabelle DeSmedt2Larry W. Horowitz3NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USAPrinceton School of Public Policy and International Affairs Princeton University Princeton NJ USARoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA‐IASB) Brussels BelgiumNOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USAAbstract Using a decade of observations and chemistry‐climate model simulations (2014–2023), we highlight the key role of biosphere‐atmosphere interactions in driving late summer–autumn ozone pollution extremes over Southeast China during hot droughts. In the 2019 and 2022 droughts, stomatal closure in the Yangtze River Basin, caused by soil moisture deficits, led to ∼60% reductions in ozone deposition rates to vegetation, aligning with reduced photosynthesis inferred from satellite remote sensing of solar induced fluorescence. Ozone production increased due to higher isoprene emissions from heat stress, NOx‐rich airflow from North China, and enhanced solar radiation. Soil drought intensified temperatures and increased isoprene emissions by 27%, but these only had marginal impact on ozone (<5 ppbv) in South China, where ozone formation is NOx‐limited. Reduced ozone uptake by drought‐stressed vegetation played a dominant role, driving 10–20 ppbv increases in daily maximum 8‐hr average ozone concentrations and a threefold rise in events exceeding 100 ppbv.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114934ozone extremesdroughtheatwavestomatal closurevegetation feedbacks
spellingShingle Meiyun Lin
Yuanyu Xie
Isabelle DeSmedt
Larry W. Horowitz
Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
Geophysical Research Letters
ozone extremes
drought
heatwave
stomatal closure
vegetation feedbacks
title Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
title_full Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
title_fullStr Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
title_full_unstemmed Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
title_short Ozone Pollution Extremes in Southeast China Exacerbated by Reduced Uptake by Vegetation During Hot Droughts
title_sort ozone pollution extremes in southeast china exacerbated by reduced uptake by vegetation during hot droughts
topic ozone extremes
drought
heatwave
stomatal closure
vegetation feedbacks
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114934
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AT isabelledesmedt ozonepollutionextremesinsoutheastchinaexacerbatedbyreduceduptakebyvegetationduringhotdroughts
AT larrywhorowitz ozonepollutionextremesinsoutheastchinaexacerbatedbyreduceduptakebyvegetationduringhotdroughts