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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2027
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2027
04 Jun 2025
 | 04 Jun 2025

Impacts of shipping emissions on ozone pollution in China

Zhenyu Luo, Li Peng, Zhaofeng Lv, Tingkun He, Wen Yi, Yongyue Wang, Kebin He, and Huan Liu

Abstract. With the Two Phases of Clean Air Actions in China, the shipping sector has emerged as a significant source with substantial emission reduction potential compared to land-based anthropogenic sectors. Therefore, understanding the contribution of shipping emissions to ozone (O3) pollution is therefore essential for advancing China’s air pollution control efforts. In this study, a coupled framework including a chemical transport model with machine learning techniques was developed to systematically investigate the interannual and seasonal impacts of shipping emissions on O3 concentrations across China during the period from 2016 to 2020, and explore mechanisms of shipping emissions influence O3 formation. Results indicate that shipping emissions increases O3 concentrations by a five-year average of 3.5 ppb nationwide, exhibiting significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity across different regions and seasons. Although significant differences exist between the emissions of ocean vessels and inland vessels, their contributions to O3 formation are becoming increasingly comparable. Solely controlling shipping emissions may not necessarily result in effective O3 mitigation. Instead, coordinated reductions targeting both shipping and land-based anthropogenic sources, along with region-specific and targeted emission control strategies, are critical for achieving substantial improvements in O3 pollution mitigation.

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Zhenyu Luo, Li Peng, Zhaofeng Lv, Tingkun He, Wen Yi, Yongyue Wang, Kebin He, and Huan Liu

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Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2027', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2027', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Jul 2025

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2027', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2027', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Jul 2025
Zhenyu Luo, Li Peng, Zhaofeng Lv, Tingkun He, Wen Yi, Yongyue Wang, Kebin He, and Huan Liu
Zhenyu Luo, Li Peng, Zhaofeng Lv, Tingkun He, Wen Yi, Yongyue Wang, Kebin He, and Huan Liu

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Latest update: 07 Oct 2025
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Short summary
This study explores how shipping emissions affect ozone pollution in China. By combining atmospheric simulation and machine learning, we show that ship emissions increase ozone levels by an average of 3.5 ppb nationwide, with large differences depending on location and season. Our findings highlight that controlling ship emissions together with land-based sources is critical for improving air quality and protecting public health.
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