Pusan National University study finds climate-driven greening is reshaping East Asia's air pollution
Updating vegetation data with satellite observations reveals that climate-driven changes can significantly alter ozone and aerosol pollution
Pusan National University
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Satellite observations revealed major vegetation changes across East Asia between 2003 and 2024. By updating vegetation data in an atmospheric chemistry model, researchers found that climate-driven greening altered natural plant emissions, leading to changes in ozone and biogenic secondary organic aerosols. The air quality impacts varied across the region depending on the interaction between vegetation changes and nitrogen oxide availability, highlighting the importance of using up-to-date vegetation data in air quality models.
view moreCredit: Professor Hyo-Jung Lee and Research Professor Yu-Jin Jo from Pusan National University, Republic of Korea
The effects of climate change extend far beyond rising temperatures. As forests and other vegetation respond to a warming world, they also change the amount of biogenic emissions released into the atmosphere, influencing the formation of ozone (O3) and fine particulate pollution. Yet many atmospheric chemistry models still estimate these emissions using vegetation data from 2003, despite major ecological changes across East Asia over the past two decades.
A new study led by Professor Hyo-Jung Lee and Research Professor Yu-Jin Jo from Pusan National University, Republic of Korea, together with Dr. Younha Kim from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria, and researchers from Pusan National University, shows that updating vegetation information with recent satellite observations can significantly change estimates of biogenic emissions and air pollution. This study was made available online on March 30, 2026, and was published in Volume 299 of the journal Environmental Research on June 15, 2026.
"Our results show that updating vegetation information alone can substantially change biogenic emissions, O₃, and biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOA)," says Prof. Lee.
Plants emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), including isoprene and monoterpenes, which undergo atmospheric reactions and contribute to the formation of ground-level O3 and BSOA. Because these emissions depend on the amount and type of vegetation, changes in forests and plant growth can directly influence air quality.
To investigate this effect, the researchers used the WRF-Chem atmospheric chemistry model coupled with the MEGAN biogenic emissions model. They replaced the model's default vegetation dataset from 2003 with satellite-derived vegetation observations from 2024 while using the same model configuration and meteorological conditions. This approach allowed the team to isolate the impact of updated vegetation data, specifically the effects of vegetation changes alone.
Satellite observations showed an overall increase in vegetation across East Asia, but the magnitude and direction of change varied spatially, with strong greening in parts of China and localized declines in Japan. These vegetation changes altered modeled O₃ and BSOA concentrations, with the largest increases occurring in suburban areas, where a balance between vegetation changes and NOₓ availability favored secondary pollutant formation. Urban areas showed smaller responses because vegetation changes were limited despite high NOₓ levels, whereas rural areas showed smaller responses because NOₓ levels remained low despite substantial vegetation changes.
"Our findings demonstrate that regularly updating vegetation datasets in biogenic emission modules can improve the accuracy of atmospheric chemistry models," says Prof. Lee.
The researchers say the results highlight the importance of keeping vegetation datasets up to date as climate change continues to reshape ecosystems across East Asia.
"This study highlights the importance of routinely updating vegetation datasets so that atmospheric chemistry models can more accurately represent changing ecosystems and their interactions with atmospheric chemistry," says Prof. Jo.
The researchers say incorporating current satellite observations into atmospheric chemistry models could improve operational air quality forecasting and provide more reliable scientific information for air quality management under changing environmental conditions. They note that the study focused on August 2024, when vegetation activity is highest, and that future work will examine additional seasons and longer time periods to better understand how changing vegetation will affect air quality in the years ahead.
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Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124392
About Pusan National University
Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service and has approximately 30,000 students, 1,200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university comprises 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.
Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do
About Professor Hyo-Jung Lee
Professor Hyo-Jung Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Pusan National University, Republic of Korea. Her research focuses on atmospheric chemistry, air quality modeling, and biosphere–atmosphere interactions. Her group integrates atmospheric chemistry models, satellite observations, and field measurements to investigate air pollutant formation, long-range transport, and the impacts of climate and ecosystem changes on regional air quality.
Lab: mac.pusan.ac.kr
Journal
Environmental Research
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Impacts of climate-driven vegetation changes on air quality over East Asia: Modulation of biogenic VOC emissions and secondary pollutants
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