Association of oxidant episodes with warm stagnating anticyclones

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1978.10470585· OSTI ID:5041690

Altshuller, A P

Warm anticyclones should lead not only to the buildup of primary pollutants, but also to the buildup of pollutants which are formed by secondary chemical processes in the atmosphere. Ozone and sulfates are pollutants which can be formed through such processes. In the last several years experimental work has been done especially in midwest areas of the U.S. associating a number of individual periods of elevated ozone and sulfate concentrations with warm stagnating anticyclones. During such periods both O/sub 3/ and SO/sub 4//sup -/ concentrations have been demonstrated to be elevated over extended urban and rural areas in the midwestern U.S. Because of the possible health and welfare effects associated with such periods of elevated pollution a better knowledge of frequency with which such periods occur is needed. The climatological analysis of warm stagnating anticyclones indicates the geographical areas substantially impacted. These stagnations tend to concentrate in the southeastern U.S. throughout most of the year. Computations and comparisons show that stagnation periods as defined in the climatological analysis used can be associated with a substantial portion of days in August and September with elevated oxidant concentrations. Other meteorological conditions such as persistent winds causing long range transport aloft also contribute to elevated oxidant episodes. Longer stagnation periods with prolonged exposures of humans, animals and vegetation to high pollutant concentrations may be of greater concern than the same number of days distributed over longer time periods.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 5041690
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 28:2; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMISTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
METEOROLOGY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
POLLUTION
RURAL AREAS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
URBAN AREAS