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Regional transport of the urban workweek: Methylchloroform cycles in the Nevada-Arizona desert

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)
;  [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (USA)
  2. Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV (USA)
  3. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA (USA)

The halocarbons CFCl{sub 3}, CH{sub 3}CCl{sub 3}, CCl{sub 4}, and C{sub 2}Cl{sub 4} have been monitored at four locations in southern California, southern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona. Summertime concentrations of CH{sub 3}CCl{sub 3} and C{sub 2}Cl{sub 4} at the Nevada and Arizona sites exhibit strong weekly cycles that lag similar cycles observed in the Los Angeles Basin by 1-2 days. The observed patterns imply a nearly complete weekend shutdown of emissions, and remarkably consistent long-range (300-400 km) transport through complex terrain. The average amplitude of the summertime CH{sub 3}CCl{sub 3} cycle is about 1,200 ppt in air leaving the Los Angeles Basin, 80 ppt at the mountain-top Nevada observatory, and 40 ppt at the level-terrain Arizona observatory.

OSTI ID:
6218147
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:8; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English