Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Vertical distribution of pollutants in the presence of convective storms

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5368139
During the PRECP V field program vertical profiles of CO, NO{sub y}, SO{sub 2}, O{sub 3}, H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, aerosol particles and water vapor were measured in the vicinity of convective storms or in air masses which had experienced convection in their recent past. Peak concentrations occur at the altitudes at which the various substances are emitted or formed in the atmosphere. For water vapor, SO{sub 2}, CO, NO{sub y} and submicron aerosol particles this is the boundary layer. High concentrations of O{sub 3} occur in the boundary layer where it is photochemically formed and in the upper troposphere as a result of downward transport from the stratosphere. The peak formation rate and the highest concentration of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} occurs above the boundary layer. The insoluble pollutants CO and NO{sub y} can be efficiently transported from the boundary layer to upper troposphere. Soluble species such as SO{sub 2} and aerosol particles cannot be similarly transported from the boundary layer to upper troposphere. The observed proportionality between aerosol particles and water vapor is consistent with limits on the upward transport imposed by the sequence of cooling, cloud formation, and removal in precipitation. 6 refs., 3 figs.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5368139
Report Number(s):
BNL-43361; CONF-8906154--2; ON: DE90002590
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English