Trace-Gas Mixing in Isolated Urban Boundary Layers: Results from the 2001 Phoenix Sunrise Experiment

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Atmospheric Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.08.039· OSTI ID:876837

Berkowitz, Carl M; Doran, J C; Shaw, William J; Springston, Stephen R; Spicer, Chet W

Measurements made from surface sites, from the 50-m and 140-m levels (the 16th and 39th floors) of a skyscraper and from an instrumented aircraft are used to characterize early morning profiles of CO, NOy and O3 within the mid-morning summertime convective atmospheric boundary layer (CABL) over Phoenix, Arizona. Although mixing was anticipated to produce uniform values of these species throughout the CABL, this was found not to be the case. Background air advected into the upper levels of the boundary layer and entrained air from above appears to be the most likely cause for the lack of well-mixed trace gases. The results show that surface measurements may provide only limited information on concentrations of trace gas species higher in the boundary layer.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 876837
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-45339; KP1202010
• Journal Information: Atmospheric Environment, Journal Name: Atmospheric Environment Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 40; ISSN ATENBP; ISSN 0004-6981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CO
GASES
Noy
OZONE
Ozone
air pollution
convective atmospheric boundary layer
mixing