EFFICIENCY OF OZONE PRODUCTION IN THE HOUSTON PLUME.

Conference · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2001

OSTI ID:789240

KLEINMAN, L I ^[1]; DAUM, P H; BRECHTEL, F; LEE, Y N; NUNNERMACKER, L J; SPRINGSTON, S R; WEINSTEIN-LLOYD, J

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1. BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY

Ozone levels observed during a field campaign in Houston were significantly higher than that observed in Phoenix or Philadelphia. An examination of the slope of O{sub x} versus NO{sub z} in the urban plumes shows that NO{sub x} is used 2 to 3 times more efficiently in Houston as compared with Phoenix and Philadelphia. Representative values of OPEx are 7-12, 3, and 4, in Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. Aircraft observations have been used to calculate P(O{sub 3})/P(NO{sub z}). Values in Houston are significantly higher than in Phoenix and Philadelphia. We show that P(O{sub 3})/P(NO{sub z}) is proportional to a VOC/NO{sub 2}-OH reactivity ratio. High values of P(O{sub 3})/P(NO{sub z}) in Houston are due to emissions of reactive olefins from the ship channel region. It is significant that high values of P(O{sub 3})/P(NO{sub z}) occur at NO{sub x} levels up to several 10's of ppb. Not only is the chemistry efficient but it will be long lasting. The occurrence of high NO{sub x} and high OPEx is fostered by the co-location of VOC and NO{sub x} sources in the Houston industrial areas.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 789240
• Report Number(s): BNL--68695; KP1202010; KP1202010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITROGEN OXIDES
OZONE
PLUMES
TEXAS
URBAN AREAS
VOLATILE MATTER