Variations in the chemical composition of the atmosphere from satellite measurements and their relation to fluxes of energetic particles of cosmic origin (Review)

New information about the chemical composition of the stratosphere and mesosphere is reviewed. This information was obtained in different seasons in both hemispheres with the use of the MIPAS (IR limb sounder), Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY; UV-visible and near-IR nadir and limb viewer), and Global Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (GOMOS) instruments installed on the European Envisat satellite launched in 2002. Measurements with the MIPAS instrument make it possible to retrieve information about the composition of the nighttime atmosphere. It should be noted that several powerful solar proton events (SPEs) occurred on the Sun in the period of satellite measurements. As is well known, the ionization of the polar atmosphere by SPEs is responsible for the intense interaction between ionic and neutral constituents below 100 km, which leads to the additional formation of nitrogen oxides and OH radicals destroying the ozone. Therefore, observations of the composition of the middle atmosphere in these periods are of great interest, because such situations serve as a unique test which makes it possible to check our knowledge not only about photochemical processes in the atmosphere but also about its interaction with cosmic plasma. The results of a comparison of model calculations with newly obtained data on the chemical composition, including those for SPE periods, are presented.     

Changes in Vertical Distribution and Column Content of NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> under the Influence of Sudden Stratospheric Warmings

Characteristic features of changes in the vertical distribution and column content of NO₂, total ozone, and stratospheric temperature have been revealed as a result of major sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs). Strong negative anomalies of column NO₂, total ozone and stratospheric temperature are caused by the displacement of the stratospheric circumpolar vortex aside from the pole. Strong positive anomalies of column NO₂ and total ozone are observed more frequently under SSWs accompanied by splitting of the stratospheric circumpolar vortex and are caused by the transport of stratospheric air from the low latitudes. Major SSWs can lead to significant changes in the vertical profile of NO₂. The changes in different stratospheric layers can be opposite to each other when the edge of the polar vortex is over a site of ground-based observations.     

Utility of an automatic water sampler to observe seasonal variability in nutrients and DIC in the Northwestern North Pacific

Concentrations of nutrients (NO₃, NO₂, Si(OH)₄, PO₄ and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were measured in a series of seawater samples collected over approximately 15 months in 2005 and 2006 by an automatic water sampler (Remote Access Sampler, RAS) in the Northwestern North Pacific. Seasonal variability and concentrations of NO₃ + NO₂ (NO_x and Si(OH)₄ were comparable to previous shipboard observations, although there were small errors associated with measurements of PO₄ and DIC. Concentrations of these nutrients began to decrease in late April. After the end of June, NO_x and Si(OH)₄ decreased rapidly, with large fluctuations. After October, these nutrients increased again until late spring 2006. The ratio of the decrease of Si(OH)₄ to that of NO_x suggests that numbers of biogenic opal-producing creatures, such as diatoms, increased after the end of June. This conclusion was supported by a rapid increase in biogenic opal flux recorded in a sediment trap at 150 m. The relationship between NO_x concentrations at the RAS depth of 35 m and NO_x integrated over the upper 100 m was determined using previous shipboard hydrocast data. This relationship was used to estimate integrated mixed layer NO_x concentration from RAS data. Estimated new production based on seasonal drawdown of integrated NO_x averaged approximately 156 mg-C m⁻²day⁻¹ annually, which agrees with previous estimates. Thus, an automatic seawater sampler that documents annual maximum and minimum nutrient concentrations and episodic events such as storms and spring blooms, which might be missed by an ordinary research vessel, will contribute to time-series observations of nutrients and, by extension, biological pump activity.     

Estimation of multiyear changes in nitrogen oxide emissions in megalopolises from satellite measurements

The influence that megalopolises have on the atmospheric composition on regional and global scales is the subject of intense investigations; however, data on the emissions of pollutants used for such investigations are often insufficiently reliable. In this work the possibilities for diagnosing long-term changes in nitrogen oxide emissions in megalopolises are investigated based on a combined use of data from satellite measurements and modeling of the tropospheric nitrogen dioxide content. Primary emphasis is placed on analyzing possible situations when emission changes are of a nonlinear character. The proposed methodology includes an original method for the nonlinear approximation of changes in a physical quantity from a noised time series of its measurements. Changes in NO _x emissions are investigated in 12 megalopolises of Europe and the Middle East in the period from 1996 to 2008. Statistically significant changes in NO _x emissions are detected in five megalopolises (Baghdad, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, and Paris). By using three megalopolises (Madrid, Milan, and Paris) as an example, it is shown that a nonlinear approximation of NO _x emission changes agrees better with independent ground-based measurements than an analogous linear approximation.     

Air pollution over European Russia and Ukraine under the hot summer conditions of 2010

Variations in the concentrations of both primary (PM₁₀, CO, and NO_x) and secondary (ozone) pollutants in the atmosphere over the Moscow and Kirov regions, Kiev, and Crimea under the conditions of the anomalously hot summer of 2011 are given and analyzed. The concentrations of ozone, PM₁₀, CO, and NO_x in the atmosphere over the Moscow region exceeded their maximum permissible levels almost continuously from late July to late August 2010. The highest level of atmospheric pollution was observed on August 4–9, when the Moscow region was within a severe plume of forest and peatbog fires. The maximum single concentrations of ozone, which exceeded its maximum permissible level two-three times, were accompanied by high concentrations of combustion products: the concentrations of PM₁₀ and CO were also three-seven times higher than their maximum permissible concentrations. The maximum levels of air pollution were observed under the meteorological conditions that were unfavorable for pollution scattering, first of all, at a small vertical temperature gradient in the lower atmospheric boundary layer. The number of additional cases of mortality due to the exceeded maximum permissible concentrations of PM₁₀ and ozone in the atmosphere over Moscow was estimated. Under the weather conditions that were close to those for the Moscow region, the air quality remained mainly satisfactory in the Kirov region, Kiev, and Crimea, which were almost not affected by fires.     

Peculiarities of the disturbance in the mesosphere composition and optical emissions caused by high-altitude discharges

The suggested equation system, including 267 chemical reactions and corresponding parametrizations of disturbances of the electric field and electron temperature, describes the dynamics of the mesosphere composition under the influence of high-altitude discharges (sprites and halos). Based on this system, the ionic disturbance, neutral components, and optical emissions of the night mesosphere caused by the sprites were modeled for a height of 77–85 km. Most attention was paid to the dynamics of disturbances of concentrations of electrons and O ₂ ⁺ , NO⁺, H₃O⁺, H₅O ₂ ⁺ , and N ₂ ⁺ typical of the studied heights. The major chemical reactions leading to the disturbance of ionic contents are determined and the relaxation dynamics of the chemical components is reviewed. The account of the excited atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen allowed us to model the radiation of the sprite flash, calculate the volumetric velocity of the photon emission, and study the influence of the sprite on the neutral components of the mesosphere.     

Integral emission of nitrogen oxides from the territory of St. Petersburg based on the data of mobile measurements and numerical simulation results

The results of spectroscopic measurements of tropospheric NO₂ content performed on a closed route along the circular road around the city of St. Petersburg in 2012, 2014, and 2015 are presented. A procedure for determining the integral emission of NO _x based on the data of measurements on the route enveloping the sources under study is described. An analysis of the experimental data together with the results of a numerical simulation of air pollutant dispersion (the HYSPLIT model) provided an estimate of the total volume of NO _x emitted by all sources located inside the circular road. The average emission rate of NO _x according to the sources of the megacity of St. Petersburg is 57000 t/yr, which correlates satisfactorily with the official data of a municipal inventory of the sources of air pollution (62000–63 000 t/yr).     

Comparing data obtained from ground-based measurements of the total contents of O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, HNO<Subscript>3</Subscript>,HCl,and NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and from their numerical simulation

Chemistry climate models of the gas composition of the atmosphere make it possible to simulate both space and time variations in atmospheric trace-gas components (TGCs) and predict their changes. Both verification and improvement of such models on the basis of a comparison with experimental data are of great importance. Data obtained from the 2009–2012 ground-based spectrometric measurements of the total contents (TCs) of a number of TGCs (ozone, HNO₃, HCl, and NO₂) in the atmosphere over the St. Petersburg region (Petergof station, St. Petersburg State University) have been compared to analogous EMAC model data. Both daily and monthly means of their TCs for this period have been analyzed in detail. The seasonal dependences of the TCs of the gases under study are shown to be adequately reproduced by the EMAC model. At the same time, a number of disagreements (including systematic ones) have been revealed between model and measurement data. Thus, for example, the EMAC model underestimates the TCs of NO₂, HCl, and HNO₃, when compared to measurement data, on average, by 14, 22, and 35%, respectively. However, the TC of ozone is overestimated by the EMAC model (on average, by 12%) when compared to measurement data. In order to reveal the reasons for such disagreements between simulated and measured data on the TCs of TGCs, it is necessary to continue studies on comparisons of the contents of TGCs in different atmospheric layers.     

Microscale gradients of planktonic microbial communities above the sediment surface in a mangrove estuary

The microscale (1 and 4 cm sampling resolution) distributions of chemical (O₂, NH₃, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, PO₄³⁻) and biological (Chl a, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, viruses) parameters were measured in the 16 cm of water immediately overlaying the sediment-water interface (SWI) within a temperate mangrove estuary in South Australia during December 2003 and March 2004. Shear velocities (u_*) during the time of sampling were very low (<0.1 cm s⁻¹), and we consequently predict that resuspension of organisms and materials was negligible. In December 2003, profiles were often characterised by strong gradients in nutrients and organisms, with the highest concentrations often observed within 0.5 cm of the SWI. Microscale patterns in O₂, NH₃, NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ indicated that a variety of anaerobic and aerobic transformation processes probably occurred at the SWI and within profiles. Strong gradients in PO₄³⁻ were indicative of nutrient flux across the SWI as a consequence of degradation processes in the sediments. Pico- and nanophytoplankton concentrations were strongly correlated (p < 0.01) to PO₄³⁻, and exhibited 12- and 68-fold changes in abundance, respectively, with highest concentrations observed nearest to the SWI. Several bacterial subpopulations were discriminated using flow cytometry and significant shifts in the ‘cytometric structure’ of the bacterial community were observed within microscale profiles. Two populations of viruses were correlated to the phytoplankton and low DNA (LDNA) bacteria, and each exhibited elevated concentrations within 0.5 cm of the SWI. In March 2004, microscale distributions of O₂ and nutrients were more homogenous than in December 2003, and dissimilar microbial community structure and patterns were observed above the SWI. The patterns observed here support the prediction that benthic processes can strongly influence the ecology of planktonic communities in the overlaying water, and provide further evidence for the existence of microscale variability amongst communities of aquatic microorganisms.     

Influence of light intensity on diatom physiology and nutrient dynamics in the Oyashio region

The spring diatom bloom characterizes the plankton and nutrient dynamics in the Oyashio region, the westernmost part of the subarctic Pacific. Previous studies have shown that NO₃ was not depleted during the spring bloom, and an increase in the consumption ratio of Si(OH)₄ to NO₃ (ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃) was observed as the spring bloom progressed. The increase in ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃ has been suggested to be caused by growth stresses of diatoms, e.g. light limitation by self-shading. In the present study, incubation experiments of sea-surface water from the Oyashio region under saturated irradiance showed that NO₃ was depleted first and ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃ was more or less constant until the NO₃ depletion occurred. The increase in ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃ was observed after the NO₃ depletion had occurred in contrast with the field observation. This result of the increase in ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃ under saturated irradiance after NO₃ depletion suggests that the in situ increase in ΔSi(OH)₄:ΔNO₃ before the NO₃ depletion might be caused by light limitation for diatoms. Responses to a reduction in irradiance were examined using diatom species isolated from the Oyashio region. Variable responses to a reduced irradiance were observed for cell specific C, N, Si and chlorophyll a (Chl) contents. However, the examined diatom species showed similar tendencies for increases in Si:C and Si:N and decreases in C:Chl ratios with the reduction in irradiance. We conclude that light limitation changes the uptake ratio of nutrients and the elemental composition of diatoms and that light limitation is one of the factors influencing the physiology of diatoms and nutrient dynamics in the Oyashio region during the spring bloom.     

Analysis of the weekly cycle in the atmosphere near Moscow

Using the spectral method and the method of grouping by days of week, we analyzed the weekly cycles by standard air sounding data obtained at the Dolgoprudny station near Moscow and by the results of measurements of NO₂ content in the stratosphere and the atmospheric boundary layer at the Zvenigorod Research Station of the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, in 1990–2010. We revealed weekly cycles of the NO₂ content in the vertical column of the stratosphere, temperature, geopotential, meridional wind velocity in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, and the tropopause height in the warm half of the year (mid-April to mid-October). The weekly variations in temperature in the troposphere are positive in the first half of the week and negative in the second half, and the variations in temperature in the tropopause layer and in the lower stratosphere are opposite in sign to the tropospheric variations. The weekly cycle of the tropopause height is approximately in phase with the cycle of tropospheric temperature, and the weekly cycle of the NO₂ content in the stratospheric column is opposite in phase to the cycle of the tropopause height. Weekly variations were also observed in the total ozone content over Moscow. This finding was confirmed by calculations based on regression relationships between the vertical distribution of ozone and tropopause height. Conceptual mechanisms of weekly cycles were proposed.     

Simulation of upper-ocean biogeochemistry with a flexible-composition phytoplankton model: C, N and Si cycling in the western Sargasso Sea

We report the first application of a biogeochemical model in which the major elemental composition of the phytoplankton is flexible, and responds to changing light and nutrient conditions. The model includes two phytoplankton groups: diatoms and non-siliceous picoplankton. Both fix C in accordance with photosynthesis-irradiance relationships used in other models and take up NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ (and Si(OH)₄ for diatoms) following Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The model allows for light dependence of photosynthesis and NO₃⁻ uptake, and for the observed near-total light independence of NH₄⁺ uptake and Si(OH)₄ uptake. It tracks the resulting C/N ratios of both phytoplankton groups and Si/N ratio of diatoms, and permits uptake of C, N and Si to proceed independently of one another when those ratios are close to those of nutrient-replete phytoplankton. When the C/N or Si/N ratio of either phytoplankton group indicates that its growth is limited by N, Si or light, uptake of non-limiting elements is controlled by the content of the limiting element in accordance with the cell-quota formulation of Droop (J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K 54 (1974) 825).We applied this model to the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea. The model was tuned to produce vertical profiles and time courses of [NO₃⁻], [NH₄⁺] and [Si(OH)₄] that are consistent with the data, by adjusting the kinetic parameters for N and Si uptake and the rate of nitrification. The model then reproduces the observed time courses of chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, biogenic silica, primary productivity, biogenic silica production and POC export with no further tuning. Simulated C/N and Si/N ratios of the phytoplankton indicate that N is the main growth-limiting nutrient throughout the thermally stratified period and that [Si(OH)₄], although always limiting to the rate of Si uptake by diatoms, seldom limits their growth rate. The model requires significant nitrification in the upper 200 m to yield realistic time courses and vertical profiles of [NH₄⁺] and [NO₃⁻], suggesting that NO₃⁻ is not supplied to the upper water column entirely by physical processes. A nitrification-corrected f-ratio (f_NC), calculated for the upper 200 m as: (NO₃⁻ uptake—nitrification)/(NO₃⁻ uptake+NH₄⁺ uptake) has annual values ranging from only 0.05–0.09, implying that 90–95% of the N taken up annually by phytoplankton is supplied by biological regeneration (including nitrification) in the upper 200 m. Reported discrepancies between estimates of organic C export based on seasonal chemical changes and POC export measured at the BATS site can be almost completely resolved if there is significant regeneration of NO₃⁻ via organic-matter decomposition in the upper 200 m.     

Evaluation of chemical ozone loss in the stratosphere over the Kola Peninsula in the 2002/2003 winter from microwave sounding data

From long-term observations of ozone evolution in the stratosphere of the Kola Peninsula in the 2002/2003 winter, the rates of chemical destruction of ozone and its net loss at isentropic levels of 530 K (an altitude of about 22 km) and 465 K (an altitude of about 19 km) ar evaluated with consideration for diabatic descent of air masses. These rates were ?18.6±3.3 and ?14.3±2.9 ppb/day and the net loss of ozone due to its chemical destruction over the period from December 1, 2002, to March 5, 2003, reached 1.77±0.33 ppm and 1.36±0.29 ppm, respectively. At the lower level, these data are in satisfactory agreement (to within measurement errors) with other measurements that were taken at that time. At a potential-temperature level of 530 K, the ozone loss in the 2002/2003 season evaluated from our data and from similar microwave measurements performed in Kiruna (Sweden) virtually coincides and testifies to the fact that the net loss increases with altitude. These inferences are inconsistent with the results obtained with the Match technique and the method of averaging over a vortex, which indicate that the ozone loss decreases with altitude. However, since polar stratospheric clouds were detected regularly in December and early January at levels up to 600 K or higher, it may be suggested that the ozone loss at these altitudes can be comparable to the values found for isentropic levels of 465 to 475 K.     

Environmental policies and marine engines—effects on the development and adoption of innovations

This study indicates that environmental policy interventions significantly influence the innovation processes for reducing the emissions of marine engine technology. Several different types of interventions have been important and the effect is not directly proportional to the strength or spatial coverage of the intervention. Despite its relative weakness, the MARPOL rule on NO_x emissions has contributed to technology development. We also show that the rise of environmental issues in other fields has had a marked effect on the development of the marine sector and that relatively local interventions can influence innovation even in an international sector like marine transport.     

Photosynthesis versus irradiance relationships in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean

Eleven incubation experiments were conducted in the South Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean to investigate the relationship between new production (ρNO^–₃), regenerated production (ρNH⁺₄), and total carbon production (ρC) as a function of varying light. The results show substantial variability in the photosynthesis–irradiance (P vs E) parameters, with phytoplankton communities at stations that were considered iron (Fe)-limited showing low maximum photosynthetic capacity (P^B_max) and low quantum efficiency of photosynthesis (α^B) for ρNO₃, but high P^B_max and α^B for ρNH₄, with consequently low export efficiency. Results at stations likely relieved of Fe stress (associated with shallow bathymetry and the marginal ice zone) showed the highest rates of P^B_max and α^B for ρNO₃ and ρC. To establish the key factors influencing the variability of the photosynthetic parameters, a principal components analysis was performed on P vs E parameters, using surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, ambient nutrients, and an index for community size structure. Strong covariance between ambient nitrate (NO₃) and α^B for ρNO₃ suggests that Fe and possibly light co-limitation affects the ability of phytoplankton in the region to access the surplus NO₃ reservoir. However, the observed relationships between community structure and the P vs E parameters suggest superior performance by smaller-sized cells, in terms of resource acquisition and Fe limitation, as the probable driver of smaller-celled phytoplankton communities that have reduced photosynthetic efficiency and which require higher light intensities to saturate uptake. A noticeable absence in covariances between chlorophyll-a and α^B, between P^B_max and α^B, and between temperature and α^B may have important implications for primary-production models, although the absence of some expected relationships may be a consequence of the small dataset and low range of variability. However, significant relationships were observed between ambient NO₃ and α^B for ρNO₃, and between the light-saturation parameter E_k for ρNO₃ and the phytoplankton community’s size structure, which imply that Fe and light co-limitation drives access to the surplus NO₃ reservoir and that larger-celled communities are more efficient at fixing NO₃ in low light conditions. Although the mean P^B_max results for ρC were consistent with estimates of global production from satellite chlorophyll measurements, the range of variability was large. These results highlight the need for more-advanced primary-production models that take into account a diverse range of environmental and seasonal drivers of photosynthetic responses.     

Basin-scale distribution of NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> and NO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> in the Pacific Ocean

We used more than 25,000 nutrient samples to elucidate for the first time basin-scale distributions and seasonal changes of surface ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and nitrite (NO₂ ^?) concentrations in the Pacific Ocean. The highest NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ^?, and nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentrations were observed north of 40°N, in the coastal upwelling region off the coast of Mexico, and in the Tasman Sea. NH₄ ⁺ concentrations were elevated during May–October in the western subarctic North Pacific, May–December in the eastern subarctic North Pacific, and June–September in the subtropical South Pacific. NO₂ ^? concentrations were highest in winter in both hemispheres. The seasonal cycle of NH₄ ⁺ was synchronous with NO₂ ^?, NO₃ ^?, and satellite chlorophyll a concentrations in the western subtropical South Pacific, whereas it was synchronous with chlorophyll-a but out of phase with NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^? in the subarctic regions.     

Variations in the concentration of mesospheric ozone during the total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, from microwave radiometric data

We present the results of microwave observations of the ozone content variability in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere during a total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006 at the Kislovodsk high-altitude scientific station. An increase in the concentration of mesospheric ozone was recorded during the eclipse. At a height of 60 km, the ozone concentration increased by 40%, which is close to the value of diurnal ozone variations.     

The effects of sodium sulfate on the emissions characteristics of an emulsified marine diesel oil-fired furnace

Degraded diesel oils are commonly used in marine power plants to conform to the demands of shipowners for fuel economy. The burning of these marine fuel oils, which frequently contain various extents of oxides of iron, silicon, calcium, vanadium and potassium, such as Na₂SO₄, Fe₂O₃, SiO₂, CaO, V₂O₅, etc., are susceptible to form much more complex compounds of either gaseous or solid phases. The release of these emissions to the environment may cause atmospheric pollution and a health hazard to human beings. Emulsification of a fuel oil with water to produce a micro-water-particles-dispersed-in-oil (W/O) emulsion has been considered as one of the promising techniques to improve combustion characteristics of low-grade marine oils and in turn effectively help to reduce the release of air pollutants. Marine fuel oil A, which approximates ASTM No. 2D oil was used as the test oil and the surfactant Span 80 was used to promote the affinity and integrating force between the components of the emulsion. An emulsifying/homogenizing machine was employed to stir the emulsion mixture of the marine oil, distilled water, surfactant Span 80 and sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) powder of 300 ppm. The mechanically blended emulsion mixture was injected, atomized and burned in an oil-fired furnace using an automatic burner. Burning gas composition, burning efficiency and gas temperature were measured and analyzed. Compared to neat marine diesel oil, W/O emulsions had higher combustion efficiencies, higher concentrations of O₂ and SO₂, while gas temperatures were lowered and CO and NO_x production was reduced. The addition of sodium sulfate decreased combustion efficiency and NO_x concentration and increased O₂, CO, and SO₂ concentrations.     

Seasonal features of quasi-biennial variations of NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> stratospheric content derived from ground-based measurements

Seasonal and latitudinal distributions of amplitudes of quasi-biennial variations in total NO₂ content (NO₂ TC), total ozone content (TOC), and stratospheric temperature are obtained. NO₂ TC data from ground-based spectrometric measurements within the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC), TOC data from satellite measurements, and stratospheric temperature data from ERA-Interim reanalysis are used for the analysis. The differences in the NO₂ TC diurnal cycles are identified between the westerly and easterly phases of the quasi-biennial oscillations (QBO) of equatorial stratospheric wind. The QBO effects in the NO₂ TC, TOC, and stratospheric temperature in the Northern (NH) and Southern (SH) hemispheres are most significant in the winter–spring periods, with essential differences between the NH and SH. The NO₂ TC in the Antarctic is less for the westerly phase of the QBO than that for the easterly phase, and the NO₂ TC quasi-biennial variations in the SH mid-latitudes are opposite of the variations in the Antarctic. In the NH, the winter values of the NO₂ TC are generally less during the westerly QBO phase than during the easterly phase, whereas in spring, on the contrary, the values for the westerly QBO phase exceed those for the easterly phase. Along with NO₂, the features of the quasi-biennial variations of TOC and stratospheric temperature are discussed. Possible mechanisms of the quasi-biennial variations of the analyzed parameters are considered for the different latitudinal zones.     

Gaseous admixtures in the atmosphere over Moscow during the 2010 summer

In the summer of 2010, the Moscow megacity during two months was within the zone of action of a blocking anticyclone. The accumulation of pollutants in a closed air mass sharply changed the surface air quality. At the end of July-the first half of August, the extreme situation became even more complicated, because the air from regions of turf and grass fires came into Moscow. According to measurement data of the Moscow IAP RAS station, the maximal hourly mean concentrations of chemically active gases NO, NO₂, CO, O₃, and SO₂ were 175.9, 217.4, 15.8, 134.2, and 15.2 ppb, respectively. For NO₂ and CO, these values are largest over the entire decadal period of observations at the station and many times exceed the MPC level (see table). The concentrations of greenhouse gases CO₂, CH₄, and nonmethane hydrocarbons also sharply increased. Analysis of the variability of gas contents in the surface air and in the atmospheric boundary layer showed a close relation between extreme changes in the atmospheric composition and its vertical stratification.