Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1301-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1301-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 26 Jan 2026
| 26 Jan 2026
Decadal evolution of aerosol-mediated ozone responses in Eastern China under clean air actions and carbon neutrality policies
Yasong Li
College of Environmental Economics, Henan Finance University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
Chen Li
School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Renai College, Tianjin, 301636, China
Yaoyu Li
College of Environmental Economics, Henan Finance University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
Tijian Wang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
Mengmeng Li
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
College of Intelligent Science and Control Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, 211112, China
Hao Wu
Key Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing, China
School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yanjin Wang
College of Environmental Economics, Henan Finance University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
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Yawei Qu, Apostolos Voulgarakis, Tijian Wang, Matthew Kasoar, Chris Wells, Cheng Yuan, Sunil Varma, and Laura Mansfield
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The meteorological effect of aerosols on tropospheric ozone is investigated using global atmospheric modelling. We found that aerosol-induced meteorological effects act to reduce modelled ozone concentrations over China, which brings the simulation closer to observed levels. Our work sheds light on understudied processes affecting the levels of tropospheric gaseous pollutants and provides a basis for evaluating such processes using a combination of observations and model sensitivity experiments.
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Short summary
Over the past decade, ozone levels have risen in China despite cleaner air. Using an improved atmospheric model, we show that changes in tiny airborne particles influence ozone differently in winter and summer: reduced particles boost winter ozone through sunlight-driven reactions, while summer ozone responds to chemical reactions on particle surfaces. These findings highlight the need to consider particle-ozone interactions in air quality and climate policies to avoid unintended effects.
Over the past decade, ozone levels have risen in China despite cleaner air. Using an improved...
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