Numerical Simulation Study on the Impacts of Tropospheric and CO_2 Concentration Changes on Winter Wheat. Part I: Model Description

Ozone is well documented as the air pollutant most damaging to agricultural crops and other plants. It is reported that tropospheric O3 concentration increases rapidly in recent 20 years. Evaluating and predicting impacts of ozone concentration changes on crops are drawing great attention in the scientific community. In China, main study method about this filed is controlled experiments, for example, Open Top Chambers. But numerical simulation study about impacts of ozone on crops with crop model was developed slowly, what is more, the study about combined impacts of ozone and carbon dioxide has not been reported. The improved agroecosystem model is presented to evaluate simultaneously impacts of tropospheric O3 and CO2 concentration changes on crops in the paper by integrating algorithms about impacts of ozone on photosynthesis with an existing agroecosystem biogeochemical model (named as DNDC). The main physiological processes of crop growth (phenology, leaf area index, photosynthesis, respiration, assimilated allocation and so on) in the former DNDC are kept. The algorithms about impacts of ozone on photosynthesis and winter wheat leaf are added in the modified DNDC model in order to reveal impacts of ozone and carbon dioxide on growth, development, and yield formation of winter wheat by coupling the simulation about impacts of carbon dioxide on photosynthesis of winter wheat which exists in the former DNDC. In the paper, firstly assimilate allocation algorithms and some genetic parameters (such as daily thermal time of every development stage) were modified in order that DNDC can be applicable in North China. Secondly impacts of ozone on crops were simulated with two different methods- one was impacts of ozone on light use efficiency, and the other was direct effects of ozone on leaves photosynthesis. The latter simulated results are closer to experiment measurements through comparing their simulating results. At last the method of direct impacts of ozone on leaf growth is adopted and the coefficients about impacts of ozone on leaf growth and death are ascertained. Effects of climate changes, increasing ozone, and carbon dioxide concentration on agroecosystem are tried to be simulated numerically in the study which is considered to be advanced and credible.     

Sampling of Chemical Constituents in Electrically Active Convective Systems: Results and Cautions

On flights of a P3-B turboprop and a WB-57F jet aircraft within thunderstorm systems, short term spikes (1–2 sec or less in duration) in NO and O₃ were recorded and are attributed to hot or cold discharges occurring on the aircraft fuselage or air sampling inlets. One such spike of only ∼300 msec duration reached 325 ppbv of NO on the flight of the jet aircraft while at 13.8 km altitude. In a lightning flash to the P3-B aircraft, production of NO (expected) and NO₂ (unexpected) were directly observed. The NO production was ∼ 1.7 x 10²² molecules/m of flash length. In the P3-B flight at 5.5 km altitude and over a distance of ∼ 275 km within a highly electrically active thunderstorm complex in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean, there was no evidence of production of O₃ or CO by lightning flashes or by any type of hot or cold discharge involved in the development of free-air lightning flashes.     

Modeling of Regional High Ozone Episode Observed at Two Mountain Sites (Mt. Tai and Huang) in East China

A high O₃ episode was observed during 23–25 May 2004 at two high-mountain sites reflecting the regional pattern of air pollutants over East China. This episode lasted about three days with the maximum hourly O₃ mixing ratios reaching 111 and 114 ppbv at Mt. Tai and Huang, respectively. Backward trajectories and meteorological analysis indicated that regional transport, associated with a weak high pressure system over the East China Sea, might play an important role in the formation of this high ozone episode. The nested air quality prediction modeling system (NAQPMS) was applied to investigate the formation and evolution of this high O₃ event. The comparison of model results with observations showed that NAQPMS successfully reproduced the main observed patterns of O₃ and meteorological parameters during the simulated period. The model results with emission over the Yangtze Delta and the East Central China switched on/off clearly showed that ozone and its precursors transported from the Yangtze Delta and the East Central China enhanced the high ozone episode at two sites, with a contribution of 20%–50% during the episode. In addition, based on process analysis with the model, chemical production and regional transport appeared to be the main causes of high ozone episode involving a large amount of high-ozone air masses and precursors transported from the surrounding areas. The horizontal transport is more active during the period of high ozone episode than that during the non-episode at Mt. Tai as well as Mt. Huang.     

Short-Term Ozone Forecasting with a Network Model System during Summer 1999

Within the framework of the Tropospheric Research Programme (TFS) four working groups in Germany (University of Stuttgart, University of Cologne, Research Center Karlsruhe, German Weather Service) formed a network developing a model system for chemistry transport calculations on different scales. The network was optimized, based on each module and combined for the different interfaces in order to perform daily preoperational ozone forecasts and its precursors at the German Weather Service in summer 1999 (May through September). The setup of the model system, the interfaces and changes of each module are described. The results of the whole preoperational episode are displayed and discussed. Main efforts were done analyzing the model climate statistics and the verification of the predictions with an extensive data base of observations at stations in Germany. The results of this extensive verification demonstrate the relatively good performance of the entire forecast system.     

Emissions of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds from Plants Part II: Emissions of Saturated Aldehydes

Emissions of hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal from 6 different plant species were measured in continuously stirred tank reactors when the plants were exposed to ozone. Pathogen- and insect attack on plants also led to these emissions. The emission rates of individual aldehydes were related to each other implying a common mechanism for the emissions of these aldehydes. Furthermore, the emission pattern was similar in all cases indicating a similar emission mechanism for different plant species and different elicitors. Measurements with ozone exposed Scots pine plants (Pinus sylvestris L.) showed that the emission rates were dependent on temperature as well as on the ozone flux into the plants. The diurnal variation of aldehyde emissions from ozone exposed Scots pine were described quite well using a formalism including temperature and ozone flux as variables. Assuming the aldehyde emissions to be general for plants exposed to ozone, the global emissions were estimated to be in the range between 7 and 22 Tg/a. Because these emissions can be induced by other factors than ozone uptake alone this estimate may be a lower limit.Now atNow at     

Impact of Air Transport on Seasonal Variations and Trends of Surface Ozone at Kislovodsk High Mountain Station

The impact of air transport on the surface ozone variations is analyzed at Kislovodsk High Mountain Station for the period 1989–1996 on the basis of 2D back trajectories. It was shown that the contribution of photochemical and dynamical processes is different for the different seasons. In summer months the surface ozone concentration is governed by photochemical ozone production in semi polluted air from the regions of Northern Caspian, Southern Ural and Volga region. Time of the seasonal ozone maximum appearance is defined by joint influence of the processes of photochemical production and destruction in the eastern sectors and advection from Ukraine and Central Europe. The value of the seasonal minimum is determined by the processes of ozone destruction in the air coming from northeastern direction in the stable frontal zone. Distribution of sectors of the air transport changes from year to year and it can partly explain strong negative trend of the surface ozone concentration at the site.     

中国40°N附近大气臭氧变化特征分析

利用1996年9月至2004年9月卫星观测臭氧总含量TOMS(第8版)资料,对全球60°S至60°N和北半球0°~60°N大气臭氧总量分布进行了分析,给出了大气臭氧总量的季节纬度变化特征;通过对位于我国40°N附近不同经度上北京、敦煌和丹东3个代表站大气臭氧总量的分布与演变状况的分析,给出了中国40°N附近大气臭氧总量的时空演变特征。研究结果显示:北半球臭氧总量的季节变化和分布随着纬度变化有明显的特征;中国40°N附近的北京、敦煌及丹东大气臭氧总量在不同时间尺度上变化特征比较一致,但也存在一定的差异。     

Influence of stratospheric ozone changes on long-term trends in the meso- and lower thermosphere

As predicted by model calculations, long-term changes in the stratospheric ozone content should influence trends in the meso- and thermosphere also. These predictions have been tested by means of ionospheric reflection height data in the low-frequency (LF) range and critical frequency data series of the ionospheric E layer, foE, observed at different stations around the world. It was shown that an essential part of the derived trends in the mesosphere and in the lower thermosphere is correlated with long-term changes of the atmospheric ozone content. During the sub-interval with the strongest ozone decrease (1979–1995) the detected ionospheric trends are most pronounced. Additionally was also demonstrated that the longitudinally dependent ozone trends are related to similar variations in the foE trends.     

High atmospheric NO x levels and multiple photochemical steady states

Previous zero-dimensional photochemical calculations indicate that multiple tropospheric steady states may exist, in which different NO _x (NO+NO₂) levels could be supported by the same source of NO _x . To investigate this possibility more closely, a one-dimensional photochemical model has been used to estimate the rate of removal of atmospheric NO _x compounds at different NO _x levels. At low NO _x levels NO _x is photochemically converted to HNO₃, which is removed by either wet or dry deposition. At high NO _x levels formation of HNO₃ is inhibited, and NO _x is removed by a variety of other processes, including rainout of N₂O₄ and N₂O₅, surface deposition of NO and NO₂, and direct dissolution of NO and NO₂ in rainwater. Multiple steady states are possible if surface deposition of NO _x is relatively inefficient. The NO _x source required to trigger high atmospheric NO _x levels is approximately 10 to 15 times the present global emission rate-less than half the source strength predicted by the zero-dimensional model. NO _x mixing ratios in excess of 10^-7 would cause severe damage to the ozone layer and could result in either a climatic warming or cooling, depending upon the amount of NO₂ present.     

火山气溶胶对北京地区臭氧总量变化趋势的影响

分析了1979～1995年北京地区臭氧总量的变化趋势、1980～1994年整层气溶胶光学厚度和1981～1985、1990～1994年平流层气溶胶光学厚度。分析依据的数据资料来自Dobson仪器所观测的臭氧总量资料和太阳辐射表提供的气溶胶光学厚度资料。结果表明,1979～1995年期间北京地区臭氧总量年变化率为-0.269%,1982～1985、1991～1994年间臭氧总量年变化率分别高达-0.954%和-1.439%。这说明厄尔奇琼火山和皮纳图博火山爆发对臭氧总量减少可能起到重要作用。