Consecutive Northward Super Typhoons Induced Extreme Ozone Pollution Events in Eastern China

Typhoons are one of the most important weather systems that can cause severe ozone (O₃) pollution in eastern China. While the effects of individual typhoons on O₃ concentrations have been extensively studied, the effects of consecutive northward typhoons and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, partly due to the complex processes involved. Here, Typhoons Maysak and Haishen, two consecutive northward typhoons in 2020, are selected to investigate their impact on the O₃ pollution in eastern China. The results show that consecutive northward typhoons not only produced and maintained meteorological conditions conducive to O₃ generation (e.g., elevated temperatures and intensified solar radiation), but also facilitated local accumulation and cross-regional transport of O₃. These factors jointly led to a 30% increase in O₃ concentration in eastern China with a prolonged period of O₃ pollution. Our work underscores the significance of complex meteorological conditions in O₃ pollution occurrences during extreme weather events, advancing our understanding of how consecutive northward typhoons affect air quality.

Jiahe Wang, Peng Wang, Chunfeng Tian, Meng Gao, Tiantao Cheng, Wei Mei