Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Ozone and Its Influencing Factors in China

Tropospheric ozone (O-3) pollution has emerged as a significant concern, as it can adversely influence human health, daily activities, and the surrounding environment(The following tropospheric O-3 is referred to as O-3). Research on the societal contribution to O-3 primarily concentrates on the generation mechanisms and chemical processes, with limited studies examining the influence of social and economic activities on O-3 at a national scale. In this investigation, spatial econometric models, random forest models, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were adopted for assessing the effects of meteorological, natural, and socioeconomic factors on O-3 concentration throughout the country. The spatial error model (SEM) revealed that precipitation, temperature, wind direction, per capita GDP, RD project funding, and SO2 were the primary factors influencing O-3 concentration in China, among which precipitation had the strongest effect on O-3, followed by temperature and SO2. Subsequently, the GWR model was utilized to demonstrate the regional differences in the impacts of precipitation, NOx, secondary industry proportion, and electricity consumption. In central and western regions, such as Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guizhou, precipitation, NOx, and power consumption were the leading factors contributing to severe O-3 pollution. The secondary industry proportion substantially affected O-3 pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, indicating that this sector played a crucial role in the region's economic growth and contributed to elevated O-3 concentrations. Meteorological, natural, and socioeconomic factors exhibited a lesser influence on O-3 pollution in most eastern regions compared to central and western regions. This study's findings identified the primary contributors to O-3 pollution and provided a scientific basis for developing strategies to mitigate its impact.