Reconstructing the VOC–Ozone Research Framework Through a Systematic Review of Observation and Modeling
Xiangwei Zhu, Huiqin Wang, Yi Han, Donghui Zhang, Senhao Liu, Zhijie Zhang, Yansheng Liu
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone (O3), a secondary pollutant of mounting global concern, emerges from complex, nonlinear photochemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under dynamically evolving meteorological conditions. Accurately characterizing and effectively regulating O3 formation necessitates not only precise and multi-dimensional precursor observations but also modeling frameworks that are structurally coherent, chemically interpretable, and sensitive to regime variability. Despite significant technological progress, current research remains markedly fragmented: observational platforms often operate in isolation with limited vertical and spatial interoperability, while modeling paradigms—ranging from mechanistic chemical transport models (CTMs) to data-driven machine learning approaches—frequently trade interpretability for predictive performance and struggle to capture regime transitions across heterogeneous environments. This review provides a dual-perspective synthesis of recent advances and enduring challenges in the VOC–O3 research landscape. We first establish a typology of ground-based, airborne, and satellite-based VOC monitoring systems, evaluating their capabilities, limitations, and roles within a vertically structured sensing architecture. We then examine the evolution of O3 modeling strategies, from empirical and semi-mechanistic models to hybrid frameworks that integrate physical knowledge with algorithmic flexibility. By diagnosing the structural decoupling between observation and inference, we identify key methodological bottlenecks and advocate for a system-level redesign of the VOC–O3 research paradigm. Finally, we propose a forward-looking framework for next-generation atmospheric governance—one that fuses cross-platform sensing, regime-aware modeling, and policy-relevant diagnostics into an integrated, adaptive, and chemically robust decision-support system.