Research on weather classification of atmospheric complex pollution: Progress and prospect

Abstract

Understanding the atmospheric circulation causes of atmospheric complex pollution is crucial for unraveling its intricate formation mechanisms. This study summarizes the progress of weather classification research in atmospheric pollution, focusing on the history, the characteristics and applicability of different research methods, the research conclusions on weather classification for different types of air pollution and their corresponding mechanisms, and points out the challenges of current research and the directions for future research. Driven by technological development and research needs, the research has generally gone through four stages of development, and the current objective classification method, especially the T-mode principal component analysis, show the superior performance. Local generation patterns contributing to PM_2.5 pollution are characterized by stagnation conditions, while those contributing to O₃ pollution are linked to high pressure which enhances the photochemical reaction, and low pressure accompanied by inversion. PM_2.5 and O₃ complex pollution, SO₂ pollution, and NOx pollution are all mainly affected by the continental and/or subtropical high. The current dominant patterns of CO pollution are unclear. Regional transport patterns of PM_2.5 pollution are generally cold fronts and high pressure, while those of O₃ pollution are mostly low pressure. Future expectations for weather classification research include in depth studies on the dominant patterns of multi-pollutants complex pollution, and expanding the application of weather modeling in pollution forecasting, thereby promoting the research results in this field to play a greater role in the research on the causes and the control of atmospheric complex pollution.