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Title: Ozone production rate and hydrocarbon reactivity in 5 urban areas: A cause of high ozone concentration in Houston

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Atmospheric Sciences Division Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton New York USA
  2. Chemistry/Physics Department SUNY/Old Westbury Old Westbury New York USA
  3. Chemistry Department and Centre for Atmospheric Research York University Toronto Ontario Canada
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Observations of ozone (O3) and O3 precursors taken from aircraft flights over Houston, TX, Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Phoenix, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA show that high concentrations of reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the Houston atmosphere lead to calculated O3 production rates that are 2 to 5 times higher than in the other 4 cities even though NOx concentrations are comparable. Within the Houston metropolitan area, concentrations of VOCs and O3 production rates are highest in the Ship Channel region; the location of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world. As a consequence the concentration of O3 in the Houston metropolitan area has recently exceeded 250 ppb, the highest value observed in the U.S within the past 5 years.

Research Organization:
SUNY Research Foundation on behalf of College at Old Westbury
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE - Office of Energy Research (ER)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-98ER62586
OSTI ID:
895151
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/62586-1; Pub7
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 29, Issue 10; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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