Aircraft measurements of NO sub x over the eastern Pacific and continental United States and implications for ozone production

Journal Article · Wed Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD07p10205· OSTI ID:5456811

Carroll, M A; Albritton, D L ^[1]; Hastie, D R; Schiff, H I ^[2]; Ridley, B A; Madronich, S ^[3]; Rodgers, M O; Davis, D D; Bradshaw, J D; Sandholm, S T ^[4]; Torres, A L ^[5]; Karecki, D R; Harris, G W; Mackay, G I ^[6]; Gregory, G L; Beck, S M; Shipham, M C; Bachmeier, A S ^[7]; Condon, E P; Singh, H B ^[8] ; Trainer, M; Hubler, G ^[9]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA)
2. York Univ., Downsview, Ontario (Canada)
3. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)
4. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA)
5. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Island, VA (USA)
6. Unisearch Associates, Concord, Ontario (Canada)
7. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)
8. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)
9. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (USA) Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (USA)

Measurements of NO, NO{sub 2}, O{sub 3}, and CO are presented from 13 aircraft flights made over the eastern Pacific Ocean and the continental United States in August and September 1986 during the NASA GTE/CITE 2 program. Measurements of NO by three different groups (two different techniques) and of NO{sub 2} by three different groups (three different techniques) are presented and examined along with calculated NO{sub x} (NO + NO{sub 2}) for correlations with O{sub 3}, CO, and dew-point temperature (DPT) primarily as a function of air mass category. Median values of NO and NO{sub 2} in the marine boundary layer were 4.0 and 10.4 pptv, respectively, and 12.4 and 18.0 pptv in the marine free troposphere. In the continental boundary layer, median values of NO and NO{sub 2} were 34.5 and 75.0 pptv, respectively, and 13.0 and 36.0 pptv at altitudes above 3 km in air masses having continental influence. In the maritime NO{sub x} data set a negative correlation is often observed between NO{sub x} and DPT, while positive correlations were typically observed between NO{sub x} and O{sub 3} and between NO{sub x} and CO. As expected, then, negative correlations were often observed between O{sub 3} and DPT and between CO and DPT, along with positive correlations between CO and O{sub 3}. In the continental data set, positive correlations were typically observed between NO{sub x} and DPT, O{sub 3}, and CO. Additionally, the various air masses were examined with respect to regions of net ozone production or net ozone destruction. In all but one case in the marine boundary layer, model calculations indicate that there is significant ozone destruction. In the continental boundary layer, however, calculations indicate significant ozone production. In the middle free troposphere at 5 {plus minus} 1 km, the in situ ozone formation was most often nearly in balance with ozone destruction.

• OSTI ID: 5456811
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 95:D7; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CARBON MONOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
OZONE
AIRCRAFT
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CORRELATIONS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PRODUCTION
TROPOSPHERE
USA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
LAYERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects