| Abstrakt: |
Under the influence of climate change, the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, has led to an enhanced frequency of ozone (O3) pollution issues. In August 2022, the Sichuan Basin (SCB), a typical large-scale geographical terrain located in southwestern China, experienced the most severe heatwave over the last 20 years. The heatwave led to substantial disparities in O3 levels across the region. Here, by integrating observations, machine learnings and numerical simulations, we aim to understand the diverse O3 formation mechanisms in two mega cities, Chengdu (western location) and Chongqing (eastern location). Observational data showed that Chengdu experienced a consecutive 17-day period of O3 exceedance, in contrast to Chongqing, where O3 concentrations remained below the standard. Meteorological and precursor factors were assessed, spotlighting high temperatures, intense solar radiation, and overnight accumulative pollutants as key contributors to O3 concentrations. The interplay of isoprene, temperature, and O3, alongside the observation-based box model and MEGAN simulations, underscored the significant role of intensified biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) on O3 formations. Interestingly, Chongqing exhibited nearly double the BVOCs emissions of Chengdu, yet contributed less to O3 concentrations. This discrepancy was addressed through CMAQ-DDM simulations and satellite diagnosis by investigating the O3-NO x -VOCs sensitivity. Notably, Chengdu displayed a VOCs-driven sensitivity, while Chongqing showed a transitional regime. Moreover, the regional transport also played a pivotal role in the spatial divergence of O3 pollution. Cross-regional transport predominantly influenced Chongqing (contributing ~80%), whereas Chengdu was mainly affected by the emissions within the basin. The local accumulated pollutants gave rise to the atmospheric oxidizing capacity, resulting in a substantial photochemical contribution to O3 levels (49.9 ppbv/hour) in Chengdu. This comparison of the difference provides the insights into the complex interplay of meteorology, natural emissions, and anthropogenic sources during heatwaves, guiding the necessity of targeted pollution control measures in regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
