loading page

Concurrent heatwaves and extreme Ozone (O3) episodes: combined atmospheric patterns and impact on human health
  • +3
  • Kenza Khomsi,
  • Youssef Chelhaoui,
  • Soukaina Alilou,
  • Rania Souri,
  • Houda Najmi,
  • Zineb Souhaili
Kenza Khomsi
General Directorate of Meteorolgy, General Directorate of Meteorolgy

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Youssef Chelhaoui
General Directorate of Meteorology, General Directorate of Meteorology
Author Profile
Soukaina Alilou
Hassania School of Public Works, Hassania School of Public Works
Author Profile
Rania Souri
Hassania School of Public Works, Hassania School of Public Works
Author Profile
Houda Najmi
General Directorate of Meteorology, General Directorate of Meteorology
Author Profile
Zineb Souhaili
Laboratory of Drugs Science, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Laboratory of Drugs Science, Biomedical and Biotechnological Research. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Author Profile

Abstract

More recurrent heatwaves and extreme ozone episodes are likely to occur during the next decades and a key question is about the concurrence of those hazards, the atmospheric patterns behind their appearance and their joint effect on human health. In this work, we use surface maximum temperature and O3 observations during extended summers in two cities from Morocco: Casablanca and Marrakech, between 2010 and 2019. We assess the connection between these data and climate indexes (North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) and Saharan Oscillation (SaOI)). We then identify concurrent heatwaves and ozone episodes, the weather type behind this concurrence and the combined health risks. Our findings show that the concurrence of heatwaves and O3 episodes depends both on the specific city and the large-scale atmospheric circulation. The likely identified synoptic pattern is when the country is under the combined influence of an anticyclonic area in the north and the Saharan trough extending the depression centered in the south. This pattern generates a warm flow and may foster photochemical pollution. Our study is the first step towards the establishment of an alert system. It will help to provide recommendations for coping with concurrent heatwaves and air pollution episodes.