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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
07:22
Design and Construction of an Experimental Setup to Enhance Mineral Weathering through the Activity of Soil Organisms
Published on: November 10, 2023
Coupled biogenic and soil emissions amplify heatwave-driven secondary pollution
Peng Wang1,2,3, Wenxuan Yu4, Zhaolei Zhang4
1Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
|July 12, 2026
Summary
Extreme heat amplifies air pollution through natural feedbacks. Elevated biogenic emissions and soil nitrogen synergistically increased ozone and secondary organic aerosols during China's 2022 heatwave.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Climate Change Science
Background:
- Global air pollution policies have reduced anthropogenic emissions.
- Climate change can negatively impact regional air quality via natural feedback mechanisms.
- The chemical interactions between co-emitted biogenic and soil-derived air pollutants are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic effects of biogenic terpenoids and soil nitrogen emissions on air quality during extreme heat events.
- To quantify the impact of these interactions on ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation.
Main Methods:
- Integration of ground-based air quality observations.
- Utilization of satellite remote sensing data.
- Application of chemical transport modeling.
Main Results:
- A temperature-driven synergistic mechanism between biogenic terpenoids and soil nitrogen emissions significantly worsened air pollution during China's 2022 heatwave.
- Surging biogenic terpenoids enhanced atmospheric oxidation capacity, accelerating nitric oxide conversion to nitrogen dioxide.
- This process led to a 21% regional ozone increase and up to 4 μg m-3 boost in secondary organic aerosols in the Yangtze River Basin.
Conclusions:
- A potent natural feedback loop exists where extreme heat exacerbates air pollution, counteracting emission control efforts.
- Coupled ecological dynamics must be integrated into climate adaptation and air pollution control strategies.
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