Study of ozone “weekend effect” in Shanghai

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences Vol. 51; no. 9; pp. 1354 - 1360
• Main Authors: Tang, WenYuan, Zhao, ChunSheng, Geng, FuHai, Peng, Li, Zhou, GuangQiang, Gao, Wei, Xu, JianMing, Tie, XueXi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science in China Press 01.09.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air pollution; Atmospheric sciences; Carbon monoxide; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental monitoring; Nitrogen dioxide; Nitrogen oxides; Organic compounds; Ozone; Photochemicals; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; China; Shanghai China; China, People's Rep., Shanghai; photochemical pollution; Shanghai; weekend effect; ozone
• ISSN: 1006-9313; 1674-7313; 1862-2801; 1869-1897
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-008-0088-2

Analysis of observed ozone data in 2006 from five monitoring sites (Xujiahui, Chongming, Baoshan, Pudong, Jinshan) in Shanghai reveals that ozone (O 3 ) concentrations in Xujiahui are higher at weekends than those on weekdays, despite the fact that emissions of ozone precursor substances, such as oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are lower at weekends than those on weekdays. The possible chemical cause of ozone “weekend effect” is that NO 2 /NO ratio increases at weekends by 25.61% compared with those on weekdays. In addition, because of an average 12.13% reduction in NO x (NO + NO 2 ) in the early morning (05:00–09:00) at weekends compared with that on weekdays, the ozone inhibition period ends 0.5 h earlier at weekends resulting in the longer duration of ozone accumulation and the higher ozone production rate. The rate of ozone production is a function of VOCs and NO x in the atmosphere. VOCs/NO x ratio in Xujiahui is 4.55 at weekends, and 4.37 on weekdays, belonging to the “NO x -limited”. The increasing VOCs/NO x ratio at weekends leads to ozone enhancement from 73 ppbv to 80 ppbv, which are consistent with ozone “weekend effect” in Xujiahui. Furthermore, combining with MICAPS cloud amount data, the fact that ozone “weekend effect” in Xujiahui weakens gradually along with the increasing of cloud amount indicates that ozone photochemical production leads to ozone “weekend effect” in Xujiahui of Shanghai.