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Accelerated O3 formation triggered by summer heatwaves in megacity Seoul
Junsu Gil1,2, Meehye Lee1,3, Moon-Soo Park4
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts
|February 6, 2026
Summary
Heatwaves intensify ground-level ozone (O3) in polluted cities like Seoul. Higher temperatures accelerate O3 buildup, driven by increased volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) under heatwave conditions.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Climate Change Science
- Urban Air Quality
Background:
- Global warming causes more frequent and intense heatwaves.
- Heatwaves are linked to increased ground-level ozone (O3) in urban environments.
- Seoul experienced a significant heatwave in summer 2018 with record high temperatures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the ozone-climate penalty in Seoul during the 2018 heatwave.
- To investigate the impact of temperature on ozone formation and its precursors.
- To understand the role of boundary-layer dynamics and emissions during extreme heat events.
Main Methods:
- Measurements of nitrogen oxide (NOx) species and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Monitoring of boundary-layer height variations.
- Utilizing atmospheric model simulations to analyze ozone-climate interactions.
- Analysis of ozone (O3) mixing ratios during the heatwave event.
Main Results:
- Ozone concentrations increased at an accelerated rate with rising temperatures.
- Ozone production efficiency was enhanced under nitrogen oxide (NOx)-saturated conditions.
- Dynamic boundary-layer processes and increased volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions significantly contributed to elevated ozone levels.
- A clear ozone-climate penalty effect was observed.
Conclusions:
- Heatwaves exacerbate ozone pollution in urban areas like Seoul.
- Temperature increases significantly impact ozone formation rates and efficiency.
- Controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and understanding boundary-layer dynamics are crucial for mitigating ozone during heatwaves.
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