Abstract
The typical patterns of surface $O_3$ pollution and their dependence on meteorology were studied in the Greater Seoul Area (GSA) during warm season (April-September) from 1998 to 2002. In order to classify the $O_3$ pollution patterns, two-stage (average linkage then k-means) clustering technique was employed based on daily maximum $O_3$ concentrations obtained from 53 monitoring sites during high $O_3$ events (118 days). The clustering technique identified four statistically distinct $O_3$ pollution patterns representing the different horizontal distributions and levels of $O_3$ in GSA. The prevailed pattern (93 days, $49.5\%$) distinctly showed the gradient of $49.5\%$ concentrations going from west to east in GSA. Very high $49.5\%$ concentrations throughout GSA (24 days, $12.8\%$) were also found as a significant pattern of severe $O_3$ pollution. In order to understand the characteristics of $O_3$ pollution patterns, the relationship between $O_3$ pollution patterns and meteorological conditions were analyzed using both synoptic charts and surface/upper air data. Each pattern was closely associated with surface wind interacted with synoptic background flow allowing to transport and accumulate $O_3$ and its precursor. In particular, the timing and inland penetration of sea-breeze were apparently found to play very important role in determining $O_3$ distributions.
