Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Ozone and Its Influencing Factors in China

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O3) pollution has emerged as a significant concern, as it can adversely influence human health, daily activities, and the surrounding environment(The following tropospheric O3 is referred to as O3). Research on the societal contribution to O3 primarily concentrates on the generation mechanisms and chemical processes, with limited studies examining the influence of social and economic activities on O3 at a national scale. In this investigation, spatial econometric models, random forest models, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were adopted for assessing the effects of meteorological, natural, and socioeconomic factors on O3 concentration throughout the country. The spatial error model (SEM) revealed that precipitation, temperature, wind direction, per capita GDP, RD project funding, and SO2 were the primary factors influencing O3 concentration in China, among which precipitation had the strongest effect on O3, followed by temperature and SO2. Subsequently, the GWR model was utilized to demonstrate the regional differences in the impacts of precipitation, NOx, secondary industry proportion, and electricity consumption. In central and western regions, such as Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guizhou, precipitation, NOx, and power consumption were the leading factors contributing to severe O3 pollution. The secondary industry proportion substantially affected O3 pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, indicating that this sector played a crucial role in the region’s economic growth and contributed to elevated O3 concentrations. Meteorological, natural, and socioeconomic factors exhibited a lesser influence on O3 pollution in most eastern regions compared to central and western regions. This study’s findings identified the primary contributors to O3 pollution and provided a scientific basis for developing strategies to mitigate its impact.