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 SO 2 were the primary factors influencing O 3 concentration in China, among which precipitation had the strongest effect on O 3 , followed by temperature and SO 2 . Subsequently, the GWR model was utilized to demonstrate the regional differences in the impacts of precipitation, NO x , secondary industry proportion, and electricity consumption. In central and western regions, such as Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guizhou, precipitation, NO x , 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.