Model calculations of tropospheric ozone production potential following observed convective events

Journal Article · Mon Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD09p14049· OSTI ID:6103902

Pickering, K E ^[1]; Thompson, A M ^[2]; Dickerson, R R; McNamara, D P; Luke, W T ^[3]; Greenberg, J P; Zimmerman, P R ^[4]

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1. Applied Research Corp., Landover, MD (USA)
2. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
3. Univ. of Maryland, College Park (USA)
4. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)

Photochemical modeling and analysis of field data have been used to evaluate the effects of convective clouds on tropospheric trace gas chemistry. Observations were made during a 1985 field campaign over the rural south-central US. Meteorological data and measurements of CO, NO, NO{sub y}, O{sub 3}, and hydrocarbons were collected in air surrounding and inside clouds during and immediately following cloud convection. A one-dimensional photochemical model has been used to calculate O{sub 3} production potential before and after cloud redistribution of O{sub 3} precursor gases. Four distinct types of convective events have been analyzed. Fair weather cumulus clouds increase O{sub 3} production in a layer immediately above the boundary layer (to 4 km in the case studied). Outflow from deeper convection can cause enhanced O{sub 3} production in the upper troposphere hundreds of kilometers downstream from the clouds. A comparison of trace gas profiles measured in and around a large cumulonimbus during dissipation shows O{sub 3} production in the upper troposphere may be increased fourfold by convection relative to undisturbed air. Convective enhancement of O{sub 3} production for the entire tropospheric column is about 50%. Compared to nonurban continental regions with no convection, the rate of O{sub 3} production potential in air processed by convection is up to 3-4 times greater. Catalysis of O{sub 3} production becomes more efficient when NO becomes more dilute after being transported from the boundary layer to the free troposphere. Free tropospheric NO may also be enhanced by lightning, adding to O{sub 3} production, particularly when sufficient hydrocarbons are transported to such locations.

• OSTI ID: 6103902
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 95:D9; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
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CLOUDS
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EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IV
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROCARBONS
LAYERS
LIGHTNING
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
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NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RURAL AREAS
SYNTHESIS
TROPOSPHERE
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WEATHER