Avoiding high ozone pollution in Delhi, India
Ying Chen, Gufran Beig, Scott Archer‐Nicholls, Will Drysdale, W. Joe F. Acton, Douglas Lowe, Beth S. Nelson, James Lee, Liang Ran, Yu Wang, Zhijun Wu, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ranjeet S. Sokhi, Vikas Singh, Ranu Gadi, C. N. Hewitt, Eiko Nemitz, Alexander T. Archibald, G. McFiggans, Oliver Wild
Abstract
emissions leads to 10-50% increase in surface ozone. In contrast, reducing VOC emissions can reduce ozone efficiently, such that a 50% reduction in VOC emissions leads to ∼60% reduction in ozone. Reducing PM alone also increases ozone, especially in winter, by reducing its dimming effects on photolysis, such that a 50% reduction in AOD can increase ozone by 25% and it also enhances VOC-limitation. Our results highlight the importance of reducing VOC emissions alongside PM to limit ozone pollution, as well as benefitting control of PM pollution through reducing secondary organic aerosol. This will greatly benefit the health of citizens and the local ecosystem in Delhi, and could have broader application for other megacities characterized by severe PM pollution and VOC-limited ozone production.