Interannual Variation of Tropospheric Ozone over the Tibetan Plateau in Summer and Its Influencing Factors

Wang Zhenhua; Luo Jiali; Zhang Jiankai; Gu Mingzhen; Zhu Fangrui

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20240608

Vol.35, NO.6, 2024

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Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2024 > 35(6): 725-736

Wang Zhenhua, Luo Jiali, Zhang Jiankai, et al. Interannual variation of tropospheric ozone over the Tibetan Plateau in summer and its influencing factors. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 725-736. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240608.

Citation:

Wang Zhenhua, Luo Jiali, Zhang Jiankai, et al. Interannual variation of tropospheric ozone over the Tibetan Plateau in summer and its influencing factors. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(6): 725-736. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240608.

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Interannual Variation of Tropospheric Ozone over the Tibetan Plateau in Summer and Its Influencing Factors

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240608

School of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000

Received Date: 2024-07-19
Rev Recd Date: 2024-09-25
Publish Date: 2024-11-30

Abstract

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau, located in the mid-latitude region of the Asian continent, is commonly referred to as the third pole and the water tower of Asia. The high-altitude terrain and distinct circulation systems contribute to the formation of an ozone valley in the atmosphere above the Plateau. The discovery of this ozone valley has garnered significant attention from the international scientific community regarding the ozone levels over the Tibetan Plateau. At the same time, in the context of global warming, the increase of surface ozone concentrations in various regions of the world has posed significant threats to both human health and ecological environment. However, due to limited observational data and satellite data of short time scales, past studies on the Tibetan Plateau's ozone primarily focused on total column ozone, the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, or surface ozone, while fewer studies have examined the tropospheric ozone column over the region. Therefore, longer-term data are needed to investigate the interannual variability and influencing factors of the tropospheric ozone column over the Tibetan Plateau. Based on AIRS (atmospheric infrared sounder) satellite data from 2003 to 2022, the tropospheric ozone column over the Tibetan Plateau during summer seasons from 2003 to 2022, as well as its interannual variation characteristics are analyzed. Additionally, using ERA5 reanalysis data from 2003 to 2022 and surface station data from China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment from 2015 to 2022, the study employs composite and correlation analyses to explore the factors influencing the tropospheric ozone column over the region. Results show that the tropospheric ozone column over the Tibetan Plateau during the summer exhibits significant interannual variability, increasing at a rate of approximately 0.08 DU per year. The difference of total tropospheric ozone column in high and low years is not only directly related to the difference of vertical distribution of ozone in the upper and lower troposphere, but also related to the difference of dynamic and chemical processes in the upper and lower troposphere. When the total tropospheric ozone column over the Tibetan Plateau is elevated, the tropopause on the northern side of the Plateau is lower, and the subtropical westerly jet is weak and fragmented. The weak transmission barrier enhances stratospheric tropospheric exchange, which is beneficial to the downward transmission of stratospheric high-concentration ozone air, while the vertical circulation in the lower troposphere affects the ozone concentration in the whole troposphere by upward transmission of low-concentration ozone air in the lower troposphere. The tropospheric ozone column anomaly in the northern Plateau is primarily associated with tropopause folding, while the lower ozone concentration across the entire troposphere in the southwestern Plateau is linked to anomalies in the South Asian High. The elevated tropospheric ozone column over the central Plateau may be associated with unusually high levels of surface solar radiation and emissions from surface pollutants.
- tropospheric ozone;
- the Tibetan Plateau;
- summer;
- impact factor

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References(46)

Figures and Tables

图 1 2003—2022年夏季高原对流层臭氧柱总量标准化指数

Fig. 1 Standardized index of summer tropospheric ozone column over the Plateau in 2003-2022

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 2 夏季高原及其周边地区对流层臭氧柱总量(填色)

(打点区域表示对流层臭氧柱总量差达到0.01显著性水平，灰色细线为高原边界和海岸线，下同)

Fig. 2 Summer total amount of tropospheric ozone column (the shaded) over the Plateau and its surrounding areas

(the dotted denotes difference in total amount of tropospheric ozone column passing the test of 0.01 level, and the gray thin line denotes the Plateau boundary and coastline, similarly hereinafter)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 3 夏季高原及其周边地区500 hPa和200 hPa臭氧浓度(填色)

(打点区域表示臭氧浓度差达到0.01显著性水平)

Fig. 3 Summer ozone concentrations (the shaded) at 500 hPa and 200 hPa over the Plateau and its surrounding areas

(the dotted denotes difference in ozone concentration passing the test of 0.01 level)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 4 夏季对流层顶气压(填色)

(打点区域表示对流层顶气压达到0.01显著性水平，黑色粗线为急流轴，黑色闭合线为30 m·s^-1纬向风)

Fig. 4 Summer tropopause pressure (the shaded)

(the dotted denotes tropopause pressure passing the test of 0.01 level, the black thick line denotes jet axis, the black closed isoline denotes 30 m·s^-1 zonal wind)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 5 夏季对流层顶折卷发生频率(填色)

(黑色线为急流轴，黑色闭合等值线为30 m·s^-1纬向风)

Fig. 5 Occurring frequency of tropopause folding (the shaded)

(the black thick line denotes jet axis, the black closed isoline denotes 30 m·s^-1 zonal wind)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 6 夏季臭氧和位势高度沿25°~40°N的剖面(填色)

(打点区域表示差异达到0.01显著性水平，黑色等值线表示垂直速度，单位：Pa·s^-1)

Fig. 6 Section of summer ozone and geopotential height (the shaded) along 25°-40°N

(the dotted denotes differenc passing the test of 0.01 level;the black isoline denotes vertical velocity, unit:Pa·s^-1)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 7 2003—2022年夏季高原区域对流层臭氧柱总量与其他影响因子散点图

Fig. 7 Scatter plot of total tropospheric ozone column and other influencing factors over the Plateau in summer of 2003-2022

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