Articles | Volume 26, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9453-2026
© 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-26-9453-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Jul 2026
Research article |
| 06 Jul 2026
| 06 Jul 2026
Elevated foehn exacerbates surface ozone pollution in summer Beijing
Zhiheng Liao
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
Jing Xu
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
Liyan Zhou
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
Chao Liu
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
Lin Wu
Huairou Meteorological Office of Beijing, Beijing, China
Zhiqiang Ma
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
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Short summary
We discovered that warm, dry winds flowing over mountains – a phenomenon known as elevated foehn – are a key driver of severe summer ozone pollution in Beijing. Unlike shallow foehn that can clear the air, these higher-altitude winds trap and intensify ozone pollution. They work in three ways: by heating the air to boost ozone formation, by lowering the ceiling of the mixing layer to concentrate pollutants, and by slowing winds to prevent their dispersal.
We discovered that warm, dry winds flowing over mountains – a phenomenon known as elevated foehn...
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