Jae-Hoon Cho  Young-Kwon Park

Vol. 30,  No. 4, pp. 378-386, Dec.  2024
10.7464/ksct.2024.30.4.378

High ozone concentration Long-range transport Ozone precursors Gyeonggi province

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This study analyzed ozone concentration and meteorological data from 2012 to 2021 in the Gyeonggi Province and its surrounding regions to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of high ozone levels and the impact of the long-range transport of ozone precursors. The results show that the Gyeonggi Province experiences its highest ozone concentrations in June, and during the summer months, the ozone distribution is more influenced by the movement of precursor substances within the region rather than by the inflow from the West Sea. In early summer (May ~ June), the effect of the long-range transport of ozone precursors via southwesterly winds was pronounced, leading to an east-high-west-low distribution pattern. In contrast, in midsummer (July ~ September), decreased wind speeds and atmospheric stagnation weakened the impact of long-range transport and local emissions became the dominant factor, resulting in a west-high-east-low pattern. During this period, the ozone concentrations in the western region remained relatively stable due to higher NOx and VOC emissions, whereas in the eastern region, lower emissions led to a decline in ozone levels in midsummer. This study provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms behind high ozone concentrations in the Gyeonggi Province and offers a foundation for developing effective air quality management policies that account for the long-range transport of ozone precursors and meteorological factors.