Abstract:
To investigate the spatiotemporal variation of ozone (O
3) concentrations in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in recent years and their meteorological influences, this study utilized O
3 monitoring data and meteorological data from March 1
st, 2015 to February 29
th, 2024. Multiple regression and meteorological adjustment methods were applied to explore the seasonal and annual variation in O
3 concentrations across different cities in the GBA. A regression model was established to quantify the relationship between meteorological factors and O
3 concentrations, and meteorological adjustments were made to O
3 and NO
2 concentrations. The changes in O
3 concentration and its sensitivity before and after removing the influence of meteorological factors were analyzed. The results show that: (1) Temporally, the daily maximum 8-hour O
3 concentration (O
3-8 h) in the GBA exhibited an overall increasing trend. (2) Spatially, heterogeneity in the O
3-8h concentration was observed among different cities. (3) O
3 concentrations in the GBA were influenced by relative humidity (43.4%), temperature (27.1%), and wind speed (14.3%). Temperature and total solar radiation had positive impacts on O
3 concentrations, while air pressure, relative humidity, cumulative precipitation, boundary layer height, and wind speed had negative impacts. Wind direction showed varying effects across cities and seasons. (4) The seasonal and annual 90
th percentiles of O
3 concentrations showed a significant decrease after meteorological adjustment, indicating a strong association between extreme pollution events and meteorological extremes. (5) The sensitivity of O
3 formation in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen has gradually shifted from VOCs-limited to mixed-sensitivity or NO
x-limited regime, while Zhuhai and Zhaoqing remained more VOCs-limited, and Huizhou tended toward a mixed-sensitivity or NO
x-limited regime. This study reveals that O
3 pollution in the GBA is becoming increasingly severe with distinct inter-city heterogeneity, emphasizing the need for region-specific policies to effectively control and mitigate O
3 pollution.