Trace gas concentrations and meteorology in rural Virginia. 2. Reactive nitrogen compounds
- Univ. of Maryland, College Park (United States)
The authors present measurements of reactive nitrogen compounds that play important roles in atmospheric photochemistry and acidity, and as nutrients in soil and water. These compounds are, however, poorly understood in terms of spatial and temporal variability. Measurements of nitric oxide, NO, and total reactive nitrogen, NO[sub y], were made for over a year during 1988 and 1989 at a mountain site that they feel is representative of the regional tropospheric composition. They also measured total nitrate (HNO[sub 3] + NO[sub 3][sup [minus]]) for three weeks during this period. For the whole year, the mean, standard deviation, and (median) NO[sub y] and daytime NO mixing ratios were 5.1[plus minus]3.1 (4.3) ppbv and 0.59[plus minus]0.94 (0.23) ppbv, respectively. A histogram for NO[sub y] appears to conform to a lognormal distribution, but fails a [chi][sup 2] test of significance at the 0.05 level. The speciation of NO[sub y] indicates considerable photochemical aging, except in winter. Over the year during daylight, the median ratio NO/NO[sub y] was 0.06. Total nitrate (measured in August and September) accounted for 39% of the total NO[sub y]. Total reactive nitrogen shows no appreciable diurnal cycle, but NO, NO[sub y], and the ratio NO/NO[sub y] show a summer minimum. For winter, spring, summer, and fall, the mean (and median) NO[sub y] mixing ratios were: 5.7[plus minus]3.3 (5.0), 5.4[plus minus]3.2 (4.4), 4.0[plus minus]2.1 (3.5), and 5.2[plus minus]3.2 (4.4) ppbv, respectively. Similarly, seasonally averaged daytime NO values were: 0.95[plus minus]1.07 (0.61), 0.66[plus minus]0.93 (0.28), 0.18[plus minus]0.29 (0.13), and 0.70[plus minus]1.10 (0.30) ppbv. 62 refs., 17 figs., 5 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6831471
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97:D18; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290301 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATHEMATICS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOILS
STATISTICS
TROPOSPHERE
VARIATIONS
WATER