Ozone trends in Atlanta, Georgia: have emission controls been effective

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1989.10466505· OSTI ID:6079602

Lindsay, R W; Richardson, J L; Chameides, W L

Nine years of summertime ozone data from the Atlanta metropolitan area are analyzed and compared to local emissions of volatile organic carbon and nitrogen oxides. Trends from 1979 to 1987 were studied for the number of days per year ozone exceeded the NAAQS standard, the second-highest ozone level observed per year, and the first quartile summertime average ozone observed, as well as the mean difference between the ozone level observed downwind and upwind of the city. Because this last parameter is sensitive to chemical factors but relatively insensitive to the number of days each year with meteorological conditions conducive to ozone formation, its trend may be best suited for determining how effective emission controls have been in reducing O/sub 3/ in the Atlanta area. In spite of the fact that sizeable reductions have been claimed for volatile organic carbon emissions over the past several years, the data give no indication that ozone levels have decreased and in fact imply that summertime ozone production may have increased. The results imply that either emissions have not decreased as much as has been claimed or that ozone is not sensitive to anthropogenic volatile organic carbon emissions. In either event, a reevaluation of our nation's strategy for O/sub 3/ abatement in Atlanta and comparable cities is needed.

• OSTI ID: 6079602
• Journal Information: JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States) Vol. 39:1; ISSN JIJME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEORGIA
MATTER
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
USA
VARIATIONS
VOLATILE MATTER