Modelling of near-surface ozone over South Asia

Hourly, three-dimensional, fields of tropospheric ozone have been produced for 12 consecutive months on a domain covering South Asia, using the regional Eulerian off-line chemistry transport model MATCH. The results were compared with background observations to investigate diurnal and seasonal variations of near-surface ozone in the region. MATCH reproduced the seasonality of near-surface ozone at most locations in the area. However, the current, and previous, studies indicate that the model consequently overestimate night-time concentrations, while it occasionally underestimates the day-time, near-surface, ozone concentrations. The lowest monthly-mean concentrations of near-surface ozone are typically experienced in June–September, coincident with the rainy season in most areas. The seasonality is not identical across the domain; some locations have a completely different trend. Large areas in Northern India and Nepal show a secondary minimum during the cold winter season (December–January). High concentrations of near-surface ozone are found over the oceans, close to the Indian subcontinent, due to the less efficient dry deposition to water surfaces; over parts of Tibet due to influence of free tropospheric air and little deposition to snow covered surfaces; and along the Gangetic valley due to the large emissions of precursors in this region. Monthly-mean ozone concentrations in the densely populated northern India range from 30–45 ppb(v). The model results were also used to produce maps of AOT40. The results point towards similar levels of AOT40 in India as in Europe: large areas of India show 3-month AOT40 values above 3 ppm(v) hours.

A 10-year study of background surface ozone concentrations on the island of Gozo in the Central Mediterranean

A 10-year study of surface ozone mixing ratios in the Central Mediterranean was conducted based on continuous ozone measurements from 1997 to 2006 by a background regional Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) station on the island of Gozo. The mean annual maximum mixing ratio is of the order of 66 ppbv in April–May with a broad secondary maximum of 64 ppbv in July–September. No long-term increase or decrease in the background level of surface ozone could be observed over the last 10 years. This is contrary to observations made in the Eastern Mediterranean, where a slow decrease in the background ozone mixing ratio was observed over the past 7 years. Despite the very high average annual ozone mixing ratio exceeding 50 ppbv—in fact, the highest average background ozone mixing ratio ever measured in Europe—, the diurnal O _{3 max}/O _{3 min} index of <1.40 indicates that the island of Gozo is a good site for measuring background surface ozone. However, frequent photosmog events from June to September during the past 10 years with ozone mixing ratios exceeding 90 ppbv indicate that the Central Mediterranean is prone to long-range transport of air pollutants from Europe by northerly winds. This was particularly evident during the so-called “August heatwave” of the year 2003 when the overall ozone mixing ratio was 4.6 ppbv higher than the average of all other 9 months of August since 1997. Air mass back-trajectory analysis of the August 2003 photosmog episodes on Gozo confirmed that ozone pollution originated from the European continent. Regression analysis was used to analyse the 10-year data set in order to model the behaviour of the ozone mixing ratio in terms of the meteorological parameters of wind speed, relative humidity, global radiation, temperature, month of year, wind sector, atmospheric pressure, and time of day (predictors). Most of these predictors were found to significantly affect the ozone mixing ratios. From March to November, the monthly average of the AOT40 threshold value for the protection of crops and vegetation against ozone was constantly exceeded on Gozo during the past 10 years.     

Trends of AOT40 at three sites in the Catalan Pyrenees over the last 16 years

Ozone mixing ratios were monitored at three stations at different altitudes along the Catalan Pyrenees from 1994 to 2009. The AOT40 greatly exceeded the critical level for the protection of forest and semi-natural vegetation set by the UNECE’s CLRTAP and the target value and long-term objective for the protection of vegetation set by the European Directive 2008/50/EC. The AOT40 showed an overall increasing trend over time with a slight decrease during the last 3 years, although longer-term records of ozone levels are required before affirming with certainty a declining or stabilising trend. These results indicate that plant life in the Pyrenean region can be at risk of ozone damage due to the high ozone mixing ratios detected. Nevertheless, more effort is warranted to determine the uptake of ozone by vegetation in this mountainous range. An ozone flux-based index that takes into account the local environmental conditions, plant phenology, and nocturnal uptake of ozone would provide a more accurate assessment of the risk from ozone for the particular vegetation in each area.     

Evaluation of surface ozone measurements during 2000–2005 at a rural area in the upper Spanish plateau

This paper presents the main experimental results of surface ozone concentrations measured at a rural area in Northern Spain from February 2000 to December 2005. Daily and seasonal variation of ozone has been analysed. The peak concentration levels are obtained in the afternoon, mean value around 88 μg m⁻³, with extreme average values of 59 μg m⁻³ in January and 113 μg m⁻³ in July. Small differences are found in the mean and median of the ozone levels from April to August, when spring and summer maxima are observed. Despite the great inter-annual ozone variability obtained, most air quality indicators showed a positive trend. Further analysis of the monthly mean ozone concentrations of the main percentiles have also been performed using a harmonic model. The upward trend was 6.2 ± 1.7 μg m⁻³ for the 98th percentile. To interpret the main features of the annual cycle and describe the ozone peaks, the influence of meteorological factors is studied. In summer, ozone production is governed by local processes, air temperature being the major controlling factor. However, the origin of the spring maximum is not so well identified.     

Evaluating the Effects of Radiative Forcing Feedback in Modelling Urban Ozone Air Quality in Portland,Oregon: Two-Way Coupled MM5–CMAQ Numerical Model Simulations

We summarize an on-line coupled meteorological–emissions–photochemical modelling system that allows feedback from air-quality/chemistry to meteorology via radiative forcing. We focus on the radiative-forcing impacts (direct effects) of ozone. We present an application of the coupled modelling system to the episode of 23–31 July 1998 in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Results suggest that the inclusion of radiative-forcing feedback produces small but accountable impacts. For this region and episode, stand-alone radiative transfer simulations, i.e., evaluating the effects of radiative forcing independently of changes in meteorology or emissions, suggest that a change of 1 ppb in ground-level ozone is approximately equivalent to a change of 0.017 W m⁻² in radiative forcing. In on-line, coupled, three-dimensional simulations, where the meteorological dependencies are accounted for, domain-wide peak ozone concentrations were higher by 2–4 ppb (relative to a simulated peak of 119.4 ppb) when including the effects of radiative-forcing feedback. A scenario of 10% reduction in anthropogenic emissions produced slightly larger decreases in ozone, an additional 1 ppb in local-peak reductions, relative to scenarios without feedback.     

High resolution simulation of recent Arctic and Antarctic stratospheric chemical ozone loss compared to observations

Simulations of polar ozone losses were performed using the three-dimensional high-resolution (1^∘ × 1^∘) chemical transport model MIMOSA-CHIM. Three Arctic winters 1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2002–2003 and three Antarctic winters 2001, 2002, and 2003 were considered for the study. The cumulative ozone loss in the Arctic winter 2002–2003 reached around 35% at 475 K inside the vortex, as compared to more than 60% in 1999–2000. During 1999–2000, denitrification induces a maximum of about 23% extra ozone loss at 475 K as compared to 17% in 2002–2003. Unlike these two colder Arctic winters, the 2001–2002 Arctic was warmer and did not experience much ozone loss. Sensitivity tests showed that the chosen resolution of 1^∘ × 1^∘ provides a better evaluation of ozone loss at the edge of the polar vortex in high solar zenith angle conditions. The simulation results for ozone, ClO, HNO₃, N₂O, and NO _y for winters 1999–2000 and 2002–2003 were compared with measurements on board ER-2 and Geophysica aircraft respectively. Sensitivity tests showed that increasing heating rates calculated by the model by 50% and doubling the PSC (Polar Stratospheric Clouds) particle density (from 5 × 10⁻³ to 10⁻² cm⁻³) refines the agreement with in situ ozone, N₂O and NO _y levels. In this configuration, simulated ClO levels are increased and are in better agreement with observations in January but are overestimated by about 20% in March. The use of the Burkholder et al. (1990) Cl₂O₂ absorption cross-sections slightly increases further ClO levels especially in high solar zenith angle conditions. Comparisons of the modelled ozone values with ozonesonde measurement in the Antarctic winter 2003 and with Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement III (POAM III) measurements in the Antarctic winters 2001 and 2002, shows that the simulations underestimate the ozone loss rate at the end of the ozone destruction period. A slightly better agreement is obtained with the use of Burkholder et al. (1990) Cl₂O₂ absorption cross-sections.     

Study of ozone distribution over the south-eastern France (ESCOMPTE campaign): discrimination between ozone tendencies due to chemistry and to transport

Ozone tendencies due to chemistry and transport are calculated by a mesoscale model using a fine horizontal resolution (3 km × 3 km), over South-Eastern France. Over that region where the anthropogenic emissions are very strong, ozone pollution is highlighted during two intensive observations periods of the ESCOMPTE campaign, when the sea breeze penetrates far into the Durance and Rhone valleys and the up-slope breezes are developed. From a fine analysis of time series of ozone concentration at different ground stations along these valleys and from numerical results, it is possible to discriminate the tendency due to chemistry from the tendency due to dynamical processes. We can distinguish both processes, either local chemical production/loss or dynamical increase/decrease (transport, deposition) on maps of ozone budget according to the meteorological conditions. In particular, we show that the variations due to transport can be have the same order of magnitude than those due to chemistry, reaching 20 ppbv h⁻¹, whereas those due to chemistry are around 30 ppbv h⁻¹.     

Surface ozone over the Atlantic ocean

During the past decade (1977–1986) ozone has been measured on board various research vessels between 83° N and 76° S. The latitudinal distribution shows nearly twice as high an ozone concentration in the Northern Hemisphere (30 ppb) as compared to the Southern Hemisphere (15 ppb). North of 70° N the concentration rapidly drops to low values (17 ppb). In the ITCZ we frequently observed a pronounced secondary maximum which indicates that tropospheric-stratospheric exchange may be induced by deep convection. During other occasions, ozone concentrations below 10 ppb were observed in the ITCZ. Secondary maxima are also found in each hemisphere, indicating the latitudes in which stratospheric-tropospheric exchange occurs. One such pronounced maximum is found between 60 and 65° N. A comparable counterpart does not, however, occur in the respective southern latitudes.The observations, although incomplete, allow for conclusions with respect to seasonal cycles, at least in some of the latitudes or for some part of the year. In the tropics differences between continental and maritime yearly cycles are found. In mid to high northern latitudes, a sharp maximum is found which extends to the summer months over continental European sites. In the respective southern latitudes, such a spring maximum is only indicated.Comparison with occasionally concurrent Kr 85 measurements by other groups allows for the conclusion that in some cases photochemically produced ozone in polluted air masses is seen over the Atlantic ocean.     

近2年阿克达拉臭氧浓度特征及气象因素的影响

利用2017~2018年阿克达拉逐时臭氧浓度监测数据和同期气象观测资料,分析了阿克达拉近地面臭氧浓度的日変化和年季变化特征,并分析了臭氧浓度与气象条件之间的关系。结果表明：臭氧浓度日变化呈现单峰型,下午16点前后达到最高值,最高值分别为42.86 ppb和38.37 ppb；2017和2018年阿克达拉臭氧最高月分别出现在3月和2月,月平均臭氧浓度为49.37 ppb和37.94 ppb,最低月出现在12月,浓度为18.36 ppb和18.90 ppb；2017~2018年阿克达拉近地面臭氧浓度的季节变化规律为：春季＞夏季＞冬季＞秋季；阿克达拉的主导风向是NW和E,夏季主导风向为NW,冬季则以偏东风为主；夏季受西北气流影响,阿克达拉西北方向的污染源对当地近地面臭氧浓度影响较大。     

Seasonal and Diurnal Variation of Surface Ozone and a Preliminary Analysis of Exceedance of its Critical Levels at a Semi-arid Site in India

The mixing ratios of surface O₃ were measured at St. John's College, Agra, an urban and traffic influenced area for the period of 2000–2002. The monthly averaged O₃ mixing ratios ranged between 8 to 40 ppb with an annual average of 21 ppb. Strong diurnal and seasonal variations in O₃ mixing ratios were observed throughout the year except for monsoon season. The mixing ratios of O₃ follow the surface temperature cycle and solar radiation (r = 0.72 and r = 0.65 with temperature and solar radiation, respectively). Concentrations were higher with winds associated with NE and NW direction indicating the impact of pollution sources on surface O₃ concentration. Exceedance of ozone critical level was calculated using the AOT 40 index and found to be 840 ppb.h and 2430 ppb.h for summer and winter seasons, respectively. The present O₃ exposures are lower than the critical level of O₃ and suggest that the present level of O₃ does not have any impact on reduction in crop yields.     

Variations in Vegetation Net Primary Production in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China, from 1982 to 1999

Vegetation net primary production (NPP) derived from a carbon model (Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach, CASA) and its interannual change in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau were investigated in this study using 1982–1999 time series data sets of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and paired ground-based information on vegetation, climate, soil, and solar radiation. The 18-year averaged annual NPP over the plateau was 125 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, decreasing from the southeast to the northwest, consistent with precipitation and temperature patterns. Total annual NPP was estimated between 0.183 and 0.244 Pg C over the 18 years, with an average of 0.212 Pg C (1 Pg = 10¹⁵ g). Two distinct periods (1982–1990 and 1991–1999) of NPP variation were observed, separated by a sharp reduction during 1990–1991. From 1982 to 1990, annual NPP did not show a significant trend, while from 1991 to 1999 a marked increase of 0.007 Pg C yr⁻² was observed. NPP trends for most vegetation types resembled that of the whole plateau. The largest annual NPP increase during 1991–1999 appeared in alpine meadows, accounting for 32.3% of the increment of the whole region. Changes in solar radiation and temperature significantly influenced NPP variation, suggesting that solar radiation may be one of the major factors associated with changes in NPP.     

华南地区春季平流层入侵对对流层低层臭氧影响的模拟研究

利用中尺度大气化学模式WRF/Chem对2013年3月6日华南地区一次平流层入侵事件及其对对流层低层臭氧的影响进行模拟研究。通过加入UBC（Upper Boundary Condition）上边界处理方案,弥补WRF/Chem模式未考虑平流层臭氧化学反应的不足。结合臭氧探空廓线资料、地面O₃、CO、NO_x、相对湿度、温度和风速等观测资料以及再分析资料对模拟结果进行定量评估,结果表明模式能较为真实地模拟本次平流层入侵过程。模拟分析进一步揭示:（1）副热带高空急流是本次平流层入侵的主要原因。当华南地区处在副热带急流入口区左侧下沉区域时,平流层入侵将富含臭氧的干燥空气输送到对流层中低层。（2）本次平流层入侵对对流层低层臭氧收支有重要影响,导致香港地区近地层臭氧体积混合比浓度明显上升,如塔门站夜间臭氧浓度升高21.3 ppb（1 ppb=1×10-9）。地面气象场和化学物种的分析进一步确认了平流层入侵的贡献。（3）采用动力学对流层顶高度时零维箱式模型和Wei公式计算得到的平流层入侵通量相当,分别为-1.42×10-3 kg m-2 s-1和-1.59×10-3 kg m-2 s-1,这一结果与前人研究相吻合,且与采用热力学对流层顶高度计算所得到的结果具有可比性。     

Distributions of O3, CO and NMHCs over the rural sites in central India

The surface level measurements of O₃, CO, CH₄ and light NMHCs were made at eight different rural sites in the central part of India during February, 2004. The online analyzer was used for in-situ measurement of O₃ while air samples were collected for the analyses of CO, CH₄ and NMHCs using the gas chromatography techniques. The average mixing ratios of O₃, which were in the range of 60–90 ppbv, are significantly higher compared to the typical values reported for urban sites of India. The increase rates of O₃ in the forenoon hours were estimated to be in the range of about 8.8–10 ppbv h⁻¹. The slopes of ∆O₃/∆CO, which is an indicator of the efficiency of photochemical production, were in the range of 0.24–0.33 ppbv ppbv⁻¹. However, levels of primary pollutants e.g., NMHCs, CO, etc. at these sites were much lower than urban sites, but higher compared to previously observed values surrounding marine region of India. The estimated ratios of NMHCs and CO indicate fossil fuel combustion process as the dominant source of primary pollutants in this corridor.     

Volatile organic compounds at a rural site in western Senegal

The objectives of this study were to identify species and levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and determine their oxidation capacity in the rural atmosphere of western Senegal. A field study was conducted to obtain air samples during September 14 and September 15, 2006 for analyses of VOCs. Methanol, acetone, and acetaldehyde were the most abundant detected chemical species and their maximum mixing ratios reached 6 parts per billion on a volume basis (ppbv). Local emission sources such as firewood and charcoal burning strongly influenced VOC concentrations. The VOC concentrations exhibited little temporal variations due to the low reactivity with hydroxyl radicals, with reactivity values ranging from 0.001 to 2.6 s⁻¹. The conditions in this rural site were rather clean. Low ambient NO _x levels limited ozone production. Nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) levels reached values less than 2 ppbv and maximum VOC/NO _x ratios reached 60 ppbvC/ppbv, with an overall average of 2.4 ± 4.5 ppbvC/ppbv. This indicates that the rural western Senegal region is NO _x limited in terms of oxidant formation potential. Therefore, during the study period photochemical ozone production became limited due to low ambient NO _x levels. The estimated ozone formation reactivity for VOCs was low and ranged between −5.5 mol of ozone/mol of benzaldehyde to 0.6 mol/mol of anthropogenic dienes.     

Controls on Boundary-Layer Thermodynamics and Dynamics in Coastal West Africa During the Rainy Season of 2006

We investigate dominant processes modulating the coastal West African atmospheric boundary layer during August and September 2006. We evaluated boundary-layer attributes using upper air soundings, tower-based observations, and information from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalyses. Boundary-layer thermodynamics exhibited continental and maritime attributes in response to influences from regional onshore (sea to land) flows and local land–atmosphere exchanges of energy and moisture. Onshore flows transported maritime air inland and gave rise to deep (>1 km) nighttime mixed layers whose heat and moisture content resulted in maximum virtual potential temperatures of 306 K and specific humidities up to 20 g kg⁻¹. The presence of the Saharan Air Layer corresponded with capping inversions greater than 4 K and lapse rates exceeding 7 K km⁻¹ above the mixed layer. Mixed layers at these times became deeper than expected (≈1 km) because dust layer events were often concurrent with strong onshore flows. Despite diurnally variable land–atmosphere fluxes of sensible and latent heat that reached maximum values of 200 and 400 W m⁻², respectively, the mixed-layer depth exhibited little diurnal variation due to the influences of onshore flows. Daytime heating of the land, the upward transport of moisture, and onshore flows produced boundary layers with high convective available potential energy that often exceeded 3,000 J kg⁻¹. These results demonstrate that the atmospheric boundary-layer thermodynamics in western Senegal can be favorable for storm development during both day and night. Mesoscale and regional models applied in this region should include several processes controlling the boundary-layer attributes to realistically estimate the energy available for storm development.     

Temporal Surface Ozone Patterns in Urban Manitoba, Canada

This study examined temporal surface ozone patternsfor two urban centres in Manitoba,Canada by analyzing hourly concentrations at theWinnipeg downtown (1995–1999), Winnipegresidential (1995–1999) and Brandon industrial(1998–1999) monitoring sites. The characteristicannual ozone cycle and diurnalcycles for June and December were attributable to: (1) theannual and diurnal solar radiation cycles,(2) temporal variations in the emissions of precursorchemical compounds, in particular the source strength ofnitrogen oxides, (3) temporal variationsin the height of the mixed layer, which determinethe degree of dilution of these emissions byatmospheric dispersion, and (4) an in situvolatile organic compound sensitive photochemicalregime, which resulted in decreased concentrations ofozone in response to increasedconcentrations of nitrogen oxides. Onlyone exceedance of the maximum acceptable level of82 ppb was recorded in the study period; itoccurred at the Brandon monitoring site on June 6, 1999.The sequence of weather and the hourly concentrationsof ozone and nitrogen oxides indicatedthat: (1) ozone fumigation, with the transition fromthe nocturnal boundary layer to the daytime mixed layer, mayhave supplemented photochemical ozone formation duringthe morning hours, and (2) during theevening hours, the post cold-frontal downward flux ofozone rich air, which was in the region dueto atmospheric transport, stratosphere-troposphere-exchangeor, possibly, due to the multiplicityof thunderstorms in the area in lateafternoon – early evening, may have been the main cause ofthis rare exceedance event.     

DISTRIBUTIONS AND VARIATIONS OF SURFACE OZONE IN CHANGSHU, YANGTZE DELTA REGION*

Through one and half year continuous in-situ measurements,the distributions and variations of surface ozone and its precursors at a typical mixed agricultural and metropolitan area-Changshu,Yangtze Delta region,were studied.The preliminary analysis on the concentration levels and variations of surface ozone indicated the obvious seasonal and diurnal cycles during the experiment.The hourly averaged concentrations of surface ozone were high,in about 17% of total valid hours the surface ozone concentration exceeded 50 ppb,and in 22 days the hourly averaged ozone concentration was greater than 100 ppb.There were about 40% of the days in that the daily maximum 8-hour ozone concentration was greater than 50 ppb.The days with daily maximum 8-hour ozone concentration greater than 80 ppb were about 33 days that accounted for about 8% of the observational days.The variations of 5-day moving averaged ozone concentrations depended both on the weather conditions and on the changes of ozone in background atmosphere.Photochemical process had the significant impacts on ozone productions.     

UV attenuation in the cloudy atmosphere

Ultraviolet (UV) energy absorption plays a very important role in the Earth–atmosphere system. Based on observational data for Beijing, we suggest that some atmospheric constituents utilize or transfer UV energy in chemical and photochemical (C&P) reactions, in addition to those which absorb UV energy directly. These constituents are primarily volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from both vegetative and anthropogenic sources. The total UV energy loss in the cloudy atmosphere for Beijing in 1990 was 78.9 Wm⁻². This attenuation was caused by ozone (48.3 Wm⁻²), other compounds in the atmosphere (26.6 Wm⁻²) and a scattering factor (4.0 Wm⁻²). Our results for a cloudy atmosphere in the Beijing area show that the absorption due to these other compounds occurs largely through the mediation of water vapor. This fraction of energy loss has not been fully accounted for in previous models. Observations and previous models results suggest that 1) a cloudy atmosphere absorbs 25∼30 Wm⁻² more solar shortwave radiation than models predict; and 2) aerosols can significantly decrease the downward mean UV-visible radiation and the absorbed solar radiation at the surface by up to 28 and 23 Wm⁻², respectively. Thus, quantitative study of UV and visible absorption by atmospheric constituents involved in homogeneous and heterogeneous C&P reactions is important for atmospheric models.     

Ozone and PAN Formation Inside and Outside of the Berlin Plume – Process Analysis and Numerical Process Simulation

During the BERLIOZ field phase on 20 July 1998 a 40 km wide ozone-plume 30 to 70 km north of Berlin in the lee of the city was detected. The ozone mixing ratio inside the plume was app. 15 ppb higher than outside, mainly caused by high ozone precursor emissions in Berlin, resulting in a net chemical ozone production of 6.5 ppb h^–1, which overcompensates ozone advection of –3.6 ppb h^–1 andturbulent diffusion of –1.1 ppb h^–1. That means, although moreozone leaves the control volume far in the lee of Berlin than enters it at the leeside cityborder and although turbulent diffusion causes a loss of ozone in the leeside control volume the chemical production inside the volume leads to a net ozone increase. Using a semi-Lagrangian mass budget method to estimate the net ozone production, 5.0 ppb h^–1 are calculated for theplume. This means a fraction of about 20% of ozone in the plume is producedby local emissions, therefore called `home made' by the Berlin emissions. For the same area KAMM/DRAIS simulations using an observation based initialisation, results in a net production rate between 4.0 and 6.5 ppbh^–1, while the threefold nested EURAD model gives 6.0 ppbh^–1. The process analysis indicates in many cases goodagreement (10% or better) between measurements and simulations not only in the ozone concentrations but also with respect to the physical and chemical processes governing the total change. Remaining differences are caused by different resolution in time and space of the models and measurements as well as by errors in the emission calculation.The upwind-downwind differences in PAN concentrations are partly similar to those of ozone, because in the BERLIOZ case they are governed mainly by photochemical production. While in the stable boundary layer at night and windward of Berlin 0.1 to 0.3 ppb are detected, in the centre of the plume at noon concentrations between 0.75 ppb and 1.0 ppb are measured. The O₃/PAN ratio is about 80 to 120 and thus due to the relatively lowPAN concentrations significantly higher than found in previous studies. The low PAN formation on 20 July, was mainly restricted by the moderate nonmethane hydrocarbon levels, whereas high PAN concentrations of 3.0 ppb on 21 July, are caused by local production in the boundary layer and by large scale advection aloft.     

Simultaneous measurements of ozone and its precursors on a diurnal scale at a semi urban site in India

Simultaneous observations of surface ozone (O₃) with its precursors namely, carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) have been taken on diurnal scale from a tropical semi-urban site, Pune (18.54°N, 73.81°E) in India. We present the data for one year (2003–2004) period to study the salient features of these trace gases. The peak in amplitude of ozone is found during the noontime whereas in CO and NO_X it is observed in the morning hours between 0800 and 0900 H. The concentration of these pollutants drop down considerably during southwest monsoon months and the diurnal pattern also become very weak. The diurnal trends of these gases are found to be different for different seasons, which are specific to the receptor site. Model simulations using 3-D chemical-transport model with regional emission inventories and observed winds have also been carried out. The comparison of model results with observations, on seasonal basis yielded a reasonable qualitative agreement. The relative role of local emissions and long range transport in the diurnal pattern for different seasons has been outlined, which reveals that the ozone is highly influenced by regional/long range transport in this region. The effect of precursor amounts in the morning on afternoon ozone peak levels has been investigated using the lag correlation study, which reveals that a time lag of 5–7 h is required for most of these precursor gases to photo-chemically produce ozone to its maximum potential. Results are discussed in the light of available topographic and meteorological conditions.