Differential ozone responses to temperature change in inland and coastal cities: comparison between Beijing and Shanghai, China

Different meteorological conditions, particularly wind patterns, between inland and coastal urban environments significantly influence surface ozone (O 3 ) pollution responses to temperature changes, yet comparative studies on ozone-temperature relationships under these distinct meteorological regimes remain limited. This study investigates how these meteorological differences affect ozone-temperature relationships by comparing decade-long monitoring data (2014–2023) from representative inland (Beijing) and coastal (Shanghai) cities using integrated spatiotemporal and three-dimensional wind field analysis. Both inland and coastal cities exhibit positive ozone-temperature correlations during daytime (10:00–17:00) periods (Beijing: R 2 = 0.966, slope = 0.066; Shanghai: R 2 = 0.701, slope = 0.051). However, their nighttime (22:00–05:00) responses differ fundamentally: Beijing maintains positive correlations (R 2 = 0.896, slope = 0.055), while Shanghai exhibits negative correlations (R 2 = 0.557, slope = −0.060). Three-dimensional wind field analysis reveals distinct physical mechanisms underlying these contrasting nighttime responses. In Beijing, rising temperatures induce atmospheric subsidence that suppresses vertical dispersion and enhances surface O 3 accumulation, while in Shanghai, higher temperatures strengthen onshore sea breezes that advect marine air masses with lower O 3 concentrations inland. These findings demonstrate that uniform ozone control policies may be ineffective across different urban types, necessitating geographically-tailored strategies. Under climate warming scenarios, Beijing may experience exacerbated nighttime ozone accumulation, while Shanghai could benefit from enhanced marine air dilution effects, highlighting the critical importance of incorporating local meteorological dynamics into regional air quality management and climate adaptation policies.