Search results for "Zone"

The importance of stratospheric–tropospheric transport in affecting surface ozone concentrations in the western and northern tier of the United States

2011

Stratospheric–tropospheric exchange (STE) processes contribute at both high and low-elevation monitoring sites to background ozone (O3) concentrations. This study addresses the importance of stratospheric intrusions contributing to enhanced hourly average surface O3 concentrations (i.e., ≥50 ppb) at 12 O3 monitoring stations in the western and northern tier of the US for 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Lagrangian Analysis Tool (LAGRANTO) trajectory model identified specific days when stratosphere-to-troposphere transport was optimal to elevate surface O3 levels. The coincidences between the number of days with a daily maximum hourly average O3 concentration ≥ 50 ppb and stratosphere-to-tropospher…

Neural networks for analysing the relevance of input variables in the prediction of tropospheric ozone concentration

2006

Abstract This paper deals with tropospheric ozone modelling by using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). In this study, ambient ozone concentrations are estimated using surface meteorological variables and vehicle emission variables as predictors. The work is especially focused on analysing the importance of the input variables used by these models. This analysis is carried out in different time windows: all the time of study (April of 1997, 1999 and 2000), one month (April 1999), and finally, an hourly analysis. All the information extracted from these analyses can determine the most important factors in tropospheric ozone formation, thus achieving a qualitative model from the quantitative …

A complex case study of down to the surface intrusions of persistent stratospheric air over the Eastern Mediterranean

2006

Abstract In this study, we present a complex case study of concurrent stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) events down to the surface of a low topography region in Northern Greece, which occurred in spring 2000. Two surface stations at Livadi (850 m asl) and Thessaloniki (20 m asl) were influenced by intrusions of stratospheric air masses that persisted for a time period from 7 to 10 days within the troposphere before reaching the stations. Before reaching the surface stations in Greece, the air masses crossed the tropopause in different synoptic systems over Eastern Europe, N. America and the N. Atlantic. This is the first study, to our knowledge, that presents a down to the surface…

2012

Abstract. Measurements of the ambient aerosol were performed at the Southern coast of Spain, within the framework of the DOMINO (Diel Oxidant Mechanisms In relation to Nitrogen Oxides) project. The field campaign took place from 20 November until 9 December 2008 at the atmospheric research station "El Arenosillo" (37°5'47.76" N, 6°44'6.94" W). As the monitoring station is located at the interface between a natural park, industrial cities (Huelva, Seville) and the Atlantic Ocean, a variety of physical and chemical parameters of aerosols and gas phase could be characterized in dependency on the origin of air masses. Backwards trajectories were examined and compared with local meteorology to c…

Emission of iodine-containing volatiles by selected microalgae species

2014

In this study we present the results of an emission study of different phytoplankton samples in aqueous media treated with elevated ozone levels. Halocarbon measurements show that the samples tested released bromoform and different iodocarbons, including iodomethane, iodochloromethane and diiodomethane. Iodide and iodate levels in the liquid phase were representative of concentrations of surface water in a natural environment. Measurement of volatile iodine (I2) emissions from two diatom samples (Mediopyxis helysia and Porosira glacialis) and the background sample (F/2 medium from filtered natural seawater) showed that the quantity of evolved I2 depends on the ozone concentration in the air…

2012

Abstract. Mineral dust is a major fraction of global atmospheric aerosol, and the oxidation of SO2 on mineral dust has implications for cloud formation, climate and the sulfur cycle. Stable sulfur isotopes can be used to understand the different oxidation processes occurring on mineral dust. This study presents measurements of the 34S/32S fractionation factor α34 for oxidation of SO2 on mineral dust surfaces and in the aqueous phase in mineral dust leachate. Sahara dust, which accounts for ~60% of global dust emissions and loading, was used for the experiments. The fractionation factor for aqueous oxidation in dust leachate is αleachate = 0.9917±0.0046, which is in agreement with previous m…

Evaluation of the MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer during the airborne field study CIRRUS-III

2018

The MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer (MCH) is usually operated aboard passenger aircraft in the framework of MOZAIC (Measurement of Ozone by Airbus In-Service Aircraft) for measuring atmospheric relative humidity (RH). In order to evaluate the performance of the MCH, the instrument was operated aboard a Learjet 35A research aircraft as part of the CIRRUS-III field study together with a closed-cell Lyman-α fluorescence hygrometer (Fast in situ Stratospheric Hygrometer, or FISH) and an open-path tunable diode laser system (Open-path Jülich Stratospheric TDL ExpeRiment, or OJSTER) for water vapour measurement. After reducing the CIRRUS-III data set to data corresponding to MOZAIC aircraft operatio…

In-situ observations of young contrails – overview and selected results from the CONCERT campaign

2010

Lineshaped contrails were detected with the research aircraft Falcon during the CONCERT – CONtrail and Cirrus ExpeRimenT – campaign in October/November 2008. The Falcon was equipped with a set of instruments to measure the particle size distribution, shape, extinction and chemical composition as well as trace gas mixing ratios of sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), reactive nitrogen and halogen species (NO, NO<sub>y</sub>, HNO<sub>3</sub>, HONO, HCl), ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and carbon monoxide (CO). During 12 mission flights over Europe, numerous contrails, cirrus clouds and a volcanic aerosol layer were probed at altitudes between 8.5 and 11.6 km…

Operational considerations to improve total ozone measurements with a Microtops II ozone monitor

2012

A Microtops II "ozone monitor" with UV channels centered at 305.5, 312.5, and 320 nm has been used routinely in six experimental campaigns carried out in several geographic locations and seasons, covering latitudes from 35 to 68° N during the last ten years (2001–2011). The total ozone content is retrieved by Microtops II by using different combinations (Channel I, 305.5/312.5 nm; Channel II, 312.5/320 nm; and Channel III, 305.5/312.5/320 nm) of the signals at the three ultraviolet wavelengths. The long-term performance of the total ozone content determination has been studied taking into account the sensitivities to the calibration, airmass, temperature and aerosols. When a calibration was…

Measurement report: Photochemical production and loss rates of formaldehyde and ozone across Europe

2021

Various atmospheric sources and sinks regulate the abundance of tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO), which is an important trace gas impacting the HOx (≡ HO2 + OH) budget and the concentration of ozone (O3). In this study, we present the formation and destruction terms of ambient HCHO and O3 calculated from in situ observations of various atmospheric trace gases measured at three different sites across Europe during summertime. These include a coastal site in Cyprus, in the scope of the Cyprus Photochemistry Experiment (CYPHEX) in 2014, a mountain site in southern Germany, as part of the Hohenpeißenberg Photochemistry Experiment (HOPE) in 2012, and a forested site in Finland, where measurement…