Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (16)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = ozone volume mixing ratio

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
13 pages, 1409 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Chemical Composition of the Middle Atmosphere During Energetic Particle Precipitation in January 2005 and 2012
by Grigoriy Doronin, Irina Mironova and Eugene Rozanov
Atmosphere 2025, 16(5), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16050506 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 539
Abstract
We compare enhancements of mesospheric volume mixing ratios of hydroperoxyl radical HO2 and nitric acid HNO3, as well as ozone depletion in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar night regions during energetic particle precipitation (EPP) in January of 2005 and 2012. [...] Read more.
We compare enhancements of mesospheric volume mixing ratios of hydroperoxyl radical HO2 and nitric acid HNO3, as well as ozone depletion in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar night regions during energetic particle precipitation (EPP) in January of 2005 and 2012. We utilize mesospheric observations of HO2, HNO3, and ozone from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS/Aura). During the second half of January 2005 and 2012, the GOES satellite identified strong solar proton events with virtually the same proton flux parameters. Geomagnetic disturbances in January of 2005 were stronger, with Dst decreasing up to 100 nT compared to January 2012 while the Dst drop did not exceed 70 nT. Comparison of observations made with the MLS/Aura shows the highest change of HO2 and HNO3 concentrations and also the deepest ozone destruction at the latitudinal range from 60 NH to 80 NH inside the north polar vortex right after the spike in energetic particle flux registered by GOES satellites. MLS/Aura observations show HNO3 maximum enhancements of about 1.90 ppb and 1.66 ppb around 0.5 hPa (about 55 km) in January 2005 and January 2012, respectively. The HOx increases lead to short-term ozone destruction in the mesosphere, which is seen in MLS/Aura ozone data. The maximum HO2 enhancement is about 1.05 ppb and 1.62 ppb around 0.046 hPa (about 70 km) after the onset of EPP in the second half of January 2005 and January 2012, respectively. Ozone maximum depletion is observed around 0.02 hPa (about 75 km). Ozone recovery after EPP was much faster in January 2005 than in January 2012. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Climatology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 9999 KiB  
Article
MAX-DOAS Measurements of Tropospheric NO2 and HCHO Vertical Profiles at the Longfengshan Regional Background Station in Northeastern China
by Shuyin Liu, Siyang Cheng, Jianzhong Ma, Xiaobin Xu, Jinguang Lv, Junli Jin, Junrang Guo, Dajiang Yu and Xin Dai
Sensors 2023, 23(6), 3269; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23063269 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2374
Abstract
The vertical profiles of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) in the troposphere at the Longfengshan (LFS) regional atmospheric background station (127°36′ E, 44°44′ N, 330.5 m above sea level) from 24 October 2020 to 13 October 2021 were retrieved from [...] Read more.
The vertical profiles of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) in the troposphere at the Longfengshan (LFS) regional atmospheric background station (127°36′ E, 44°44′ N, 330.5 m above sea level) from 24 October 2020 to 13 October 2021 were retrieved from solar scattering spectra by multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS). We analyzed the temporal variations of NO2 and HCHO as well as the sensitivity of ozone (O3) production to the concentration ratio of HCHO to NO2. The largest NO2 volume mixing ratios (VMRs) occur in the near-surface layer for each month, with high values concentrated in the morning and evening. HCHO has an elevated layer around the altitude of 1.4 km consistently. The means ± standard deviations of vertical column densities (VCDs) and near-surface VMRs were 4.69 ± 3.72 ×1015 molecule·cm−2 and 1.22 ± 1.09 ppb for NO2, and they were 1.19 ± 8.35 × 1016 molecule·cm−2 and 2.41 ± 3.26 ppb for HCHO. The VCDs and near-surface VMRs for NO2 were high in the cold months and low in the warm months, while HCHO presented the opposite. The larger near-surface NO2 VMRs appeared in the condition associated with lower temperature and higher humidity, but this relationship was not found between HCHO and temperature. We also found the O3 production at the Longfengshan station was mainly in the NOx-limited regime. This is the first study presenting the vertical distributions of NO2 and HCHO in the regional background atmosphere of northeastern China, which are significant to enhancing the understanding of background atmospheric chemistry and regional ozone pollution processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sensing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 8756 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Ozone Pollution and the Impacts of Related Meteorological Factors in Shanxi Province, China
by Ling Chen, Hui Xiao, Lingyun Zhu, Xue Guo, Wenya Wang, Li Ma, Wei Guo, Jieying He, Yan Wang, Mingming Li, Erping Chen, Jie Lan and Ruixian Nan
Atmosphere 2022, 13(10), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13101729 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3085
Abstract
Based on environmental monitoring data and meteorological observation data of the Chinese major energy province, Shanxi, from 2015 to 2020, using the satellite remote sensing data of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Instrument (AIRS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) in 2017, we analyzed the characteristics [...] Read more.
Based on environmental monitoring data and meteorological observation data of the Chinese major energy province, Shanxi, from 2015 to 2020, using the satellite remote sensing data of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Instrument (AIRS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) in 2017, we analyzed the characteristics of surface ozone (O3) pollution and its correlation with meteorological factors, as well as the vertical distribution of O3 in typical pollution cities in Shanxi Province. The results showed that surface O3 became the primary pollutant in Shanxi. Surface O3 has shown a zonal distribution with a high level in the south and a low level in the north region since 2017. Surface O3 pollution was severe in 2019, and the maximum daily 8 h running average of O3 (MDA8 O3) decreased, but annual mean O3 in northern and central regions showed a slow rising trend in 2020. Comprehensive analyses of the influence of meteorological factors on surface O3 indicated that O3 pollution in Linfen, Yuncheng and Taiyuan was mainly caused by local photochemical reactions, while that in Jincheng, Xinzhou, Lvliang and Yangquan resulted from regional transports. O3 volume mixing ratios (VMR) in the middle and lower troposphere generally increased with altitude, peaking at 120 ppbv at approximately 400 hPa. The positive vertical gradient of O3 in the boundary layer was obvious in Taiyuan in summer and significant in the surface layer in Taiyuan and Linfen during winter and spring, which was associated with greater atmospheric dynamic stability and suppressed vertical mixing. Due to the lack of direct detection of O3 in the lower troposphere in this region, O3 vertical distribution retrieved by satellite observation is critical for the study of vertical mixing and transport of local O3, as well as its regional transport characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in China (2nd Edition))
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4902 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Ozone Vertical Profiles over Wuyishan Region during Spring 2022 and Their Correlations with Meteorological Factors
by Tianfu Zhu, Huiying Deng, Jinhong Huang, Yulan Zheng, Ziliang Li, Rui Zhao and Hong Wang
Atmosphere 2022, 13(9), 1505; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091505 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2380
Abstract
Understanding the vertical structure of ozone concentrations in different seasons and their correlations with the associated meteorological conditions is crucial for exploring atmospheric ozone variability and improving the accuracy of regional ozone prediction. In this study, an ozone-sounding experiment was carried out at [...] Read more.
Understanding the vertical structure of ozone concentrations in different seasons and their correlations with the associated meteorological conditions is crucial for exploring atmospheric ozone variability and improving the accuracy of regional ozone prediction. In this study, an ozone-sounding experiment was carried out at the Shaowu sounding Station in Fujian from November 2021 to May 2022 in order to obtain vertical profiles of ozone concentrations and synoptic variables. Based on these observations, we examined the characteristics of tropospheric ozone profiles in spring over the Wuyishan region and their comparison with wintertime ozone. The results show that compared with winter, the total ozone column (TOC) in spring has increased by 64.4%, with an enhancement of 23.8% for the troposphere and a greater increment of 69.1% for the stratosphere. The sub-peaks of tropospheric ozone below 12 km are found in both spring and winter of 2022, which are accompanied by lower relative humidity (<10% in winter and <15% in spring), temperature inversions in some cases, and intensive westerly winds. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between ozone volume mixing ratio (OVMR) and synoptic conditions in the Wuyishan region and concluded that OVMR above 1.5 km is negatively correlated with temperature and relative humidity but positively correlated with wind speed. Additionally, springtime OVMR in the middle and upper troposphere exhibits a “funnel” distribution, showing a higher OVMR on the day of sounding observations and one day before and after that on adjacent days with low-level southwesterly winds and updrafts. While in winter, the strong downdrafts dominate on the sounding observation day. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing and Multiple Observations of Air Quality in China)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1907 KiB  
Article
A Study of the Vertical Distribution and Sub-Peaks of Ozone below 12 km over Wuyishan Region Based on Ozone Sounding in Winter
by Yulan Zheng, Huiying Deng, Huabiao You, Yiming Qiu, Tianfu Zhu, Xugeng Cheng and Hong Wang
Atmosphere 2022, 13(6), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13060979 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2470
Abstract
An understanding of the vertical distribution of ozone is critical to assessing the ozone variabilities both in the stratosphere and the troposphere. We collected the profiles of atmospheric ozone partial pressure and ozone volume mixing ratio (VMR) by a sounding system at the [...] Read more.
An understanding of the vertical distribution of ozone is critical to assessing the ozone variabilities both in the stratosphere and the troposphere. We collected the profiles of atmospheric ozone partial pressure and ozone volume mixing ratio (VMR) by a sounding system at the Wuyi Mountain National Meteorological Observation Station (Shaowu sounding station 58725) from November 2021 to February 2022. In this study, the vertical distribution and sub-peak phenomenon of tropospheric ozone below 12 km are investigated using mathematical statistics and synthetic analysis. The results show that the ozone partial pressure decreased from the ground to the tropopause, which is consistent with the temperature profile. However, 66.7% of cases first showed an increasing trend from the ground to about 3 km, while there were one or more temperature inversions in the corresponding temperature profiles and the atmosphere was stable and the relative humidity was high; then, in the stratosphere, the ozone partial pressure began to increase significantly, The ozone partial pressure reaches its maximum at an average height of 24.9 km, and the maximum value was 14 mPa. The ozone VMR in troposphere is the fluctuating increase from the ground to the tropopause, and 83.3% of the cases begin to rise rapidly at about 2–5 km away from the tropopause, and the ozone surge height is 2.9 km lower than the tropopause on average. Some of these tropopause ozone VMR have shown the characteristics of stratospheric ozone. The sub-peaks of tropospheric ozone below 12 km has four cases. All the sub-peaks occur between 6.7 km and 11.5 km vertically, and peak ozone VMR is 1.6–1.9 times larger than that of the average state at the same height. The maximum stratospheric ozone VMR is 8649 ppb on average, occurring at an average height of 31.3 km, and this average height of the maximum stratospheric ozone VMR is 6.4 km higher than that for the ozone partial pressure. The total ozone in the boundary layer (0–1.5 km) is 4.3 DU on average, accounting for 1.5% in total ozone column. The total ozone in the troposphere is 39.5 DU, accounting for 13.1% in total ozone column, and the total ozone in the stratosphere is 262.4 DU, accounting for 86.9% in total ozone column. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing and Multiple Observations of Air Quality in China)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2213 KiB  
Article
Temporal Variation of NO2 and HCHO Vertical Profiles Derived from MAX-DOAS Observation in Summer at a Rural Site of the North China Plain and Ozone Production in Relation to HCHO/NO2 Ratio
by Siyang Cheng, Junli Jin, Jianzhong Ma, Jinguang Lv, Shuyin Liu and Xiaobin Xu
Atmosphere 2022, 13(6), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13060860 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3046
Abstract
We performed a comprehensive and intensive field experiment including ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurement at Raoyang (115°44′ E, 38°14′ N; 20 m altitude) in summer (13 June–20 August) 2014. The NO2 and HCHO profiles retrieved by MAX-DOAS take on [...] Read more.
We performed a comprehensive and intensive field experiment including ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurement at Raoyang (115°44′ E, 38°14′ N; 20 m altitude) in summer (13 June–20 August) 2014. The NO2 and HCHO profiles retrieved by MAX-DOAS take on different vertical distribution shapes, with the former declining with the increasing altitude and the latter having an elevated layer. The average levels of vertical column densities (VCDs) and near-surface volume mixing ratios (VMRs) were 1.02 ± 0.51 × 1016 molec·cm−2 and 3.23 ± 2.70 ppb for NO2 and 2.32 ± 0.56 × 1016 molec·cm−2 and 5.62 ± 2.11 ppb for HCHO, respectively. The NO2 and HCHO levels are closely connected with meteorological conditions, with the larger NO2 VCDs being associated with lower temperature, higher relative humidity (RH) and lower planetary boundary layer height (PBLH). With respect to the diurnal variations of vertical distribution, the NO2 in the residual layer gradually disappeared from 1.2 km height to the surface during the period of 7:00–11:00 Beijing time (BJ), and the near-surface NO2 had larger VMRs in the early morning and evening than in the later morning and afternoon. An elevated HCHO layer was observed to occur persistently with the lifted layer height rising from ~0.5 km to ~1.0 km before 10:00 BJ; the near-surface HCHO VMRs gradually increased and peaked around 10:00 BJ. The ratios of HCHO to NO2 (RHCHO-NO2) were generally larger than two in the boundary layer from 11:00 BJ until 19:00 BJ, the time period when ozone photochemistry was most active. Thus, ozone (O3) production was mainly in the NOx-limited regime during the observation campaign, which was closely related to relatively high temperatures and low RH. The O3 production regimes also changed with the wind’s direction. These results are significant to reveal the formation mechanism of O3 pollution and develop strategies for controlling the O3 photochemical pollution over the North China Plain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing and Multiple Observations of Air Quality in China)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2810 KiB  
Article
The Annual Cycle in Mid-Latitude Stratospheric and Mesospheric Ozone Associated with Quasi-Stationary Wave Structure by the MLS Data 2011–2020
by Chenning Zhang, Oleksandr Evtushevsky, Gennadi Milinevsky, Andrew Klekociuk, Yulia Andrienko, Valery Shulga, Wei Han and Yu Shi
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(10), 2309; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14102309 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2209
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to study quasi-stationary wave structure in the mid-latitude stratosphere and mesosphere (40–50°N) and its role in the formation of the annual ozone cycle. Geopotential height and ozone from Aura MLS data are used and winter climatology for [...] Read more.
The purpose of this work is to study quasi-stationary wave structure in the mid-latitude stratosphere and mesosphere (40–50°N) and its role in the formation of the annual ozone cycle. Geopotential height and ozone from Aura MLS data are used and winter climatology for January–February 2011–2020 is considered. The 10-degree longitude segment centered on Longfengshan Brewer station (44.73°N, 127.60°E), China, is examined in detail. The station is located in the region of the Aleutian Low associated with the quasi-stationary zonal maximum of total ozone. Annual and semi-annual oscillations in ozone using units of ozone volume mixing ratio and concentration, as well as changes in ozone peak altitude and in time series of ozone at individual pressure levels between 316 hPa (9 km) and 0.001 hPa (96 km) were compared. The ozone maximum in the vertical profile is higher in volume mixing ratio (VMR) values than in concentration by about 15 km (5 km) in the stratosphere (mesosphere), consistent with some previous studies. We found that the properties of the annual cycle are better resolved in the altitude range of the main ozone maximum: middle–upper stratosphere in VMR and lower stratosphere in concentration. Both approaches reveal annual and semi-annual changes in the ozone peak altitudes in a range of 4–6 km during the year. In the lower-stratospheric ozone of the Longfengshan domain, an earlier development of the annual cycle takes place with a maximum in February and a minimum in August compared to spring and autumn, respectively, in zonal means. This is presumably due to the higher rate of dynamical ozone accumulation in the region of the quasi-stationary zonal ozone maximum. The “no-annual-cycle” transition layers are found in the stratosphere and mesosphere. These layers with undisturbed ozone volume mixing ratio are of interest for more detailed future study. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 22247 KiB  
Article
Daily Associations of Air Pollution and Pediatric Asthma Risk Using the Biomedical REAI-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE) Kit
by Hua Hao, Sandrah P. Eckel, Anahita Hosseini, Eleanne D. S. Van Vliet, Eldin Dzubur, Genevieve Dunton, Shih Ying Chang, Kenneth Craig, Rose Rocchio, Theresa Bastain, Frank Gilliland, Sande Okelo, Mindy K. Ross, Majid Sarrafzadeh, Alex A. T. Bui and Rima Habre
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3578; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063578 - 17 Mar 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4164
Abstract
Background: Exposure to air pollution is associated with acute pediatric asthma exacerbations, including reduced lung function, rescue medication usage, and increased symptoms; however, most studies are limited in investigating longitudinal changes in these acute effects. This study aims to investigate the effects of [...] Read more.
Background: Exposure to air pollution is associated with acute pediatric asthma exacerbations, including reduced lung function, rescue medication usage, and increased symptoms; however, most studies are limited in investigating longitudinal changes in these acute effects. This study aims to investigate the effects of daily air pollution exposure on acute pediatric asthma exacerbation risk using a repeated-measures design. Methods: We conducted a panel study of 40 children aged 8–16 years with moderate-to-severe asthma. We deployed the Biomedical REAI-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE) Kit developed in the Los Angeles PRISMS Center to continuously monitor personal exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), relative humidity and temperature, geolocation (GPS), and asthma outcomes including lung function, medication use, and symptoms for 14 days. Hourly ambient (PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3)) and traffic-related (nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM2.5) air pollution exposures were modeled based on location. We used mixed-effects models to examine the association of same day and lagged (up to 2 days) exposures with daily changes in % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and % predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF), count of rescue inhaler puffs, and symptoms. Results: Participants were on average 12.0 years old (range: 8.4–16.8) with mean (SD) morning %predicted FEV1 of 67.9% (17.3%) and PEF of 69.1% (18.4%) and 1.4 (3.5) puffs per day of rescue inhaler use. Participants reported chest tightness, wheeze, trouble breathing, and cough symptoms on 36.4%, 17.5%, 32.3%, and 42.9%, respectively (n = 217 person-days). One SD increase in previous day O3 exposure was associated with reduced morning (beta [95% CI]: −4.11 [−6.86, −1.36]), evening (−2.65 [−5.19, −0.10]) and daily average %predicted FEV1 (−3.45 [−6.42, −0.47]). Daily (lag 0) exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 exposure was associated with reduced morning %predicted PEF (−3.97 [−7.69, −0.26]) and greater odds of “feeling scared of trouble breathing” symptom (odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.83 [1.03, 3.24]). Exposure to ambient O3, NOx, and NO was significantly associated with increased rescue inhaler use (rate ratio [95% CI]: O3 1.52 [1.02, 2.27], NOx 1.61 [1.23, 2.11], NO 1.80 [1.37, 2.35]). Conclusions: We found significant associations of air pollution exposure with lung function, rescue inhaler use, and “feeling scared of trouble breathing.” Our study demonstrates the potential of informatics and wearable sensor technologies at collecting highly resolved, contextual, and personal exposure data for understanding acute pediatric asthma triggers. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4034 KiB  
Article
Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during Ozone Polluted Days in Hangzhou, China
by Lixia Han, Linghong Chen, Kangwei Li, Zhier Bao, Yanyun Zhao, Xin Zhang, Merched Azzi and Kefa Cen
Atmosphere 2019, 10(12), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10120780 - 5 Dec 2019
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5429
Abstract
A field sampling campaign of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was conducted during ozone polluted days at three sites of botanic gardens (HP), industrial areas (XS), and traffic residential mixed areas (ZH) in Hangzhou. The sampling was performed using stainless steel canisters from 6:00 [...] Read more.
A field sampling campaign of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was conducted during ozone polluted days at three sites of botanic gardens (HP), industrial areas (XS), and traffic residential mixed areas (ZH) in Hangzhou. The sampling was performed using stainless steel canisters from 6:00 to 20:00 synchronously with a time interval of 2 h on 17 May, 26 June, 20 July, 24 August, and 26 September 2018. A total of 107 species of VOCs for each sample were quantified using two standard gases with a pre-concentrator coupled by GC/MS. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was used to identify the major VOC sources and assess their contribution to VOC concentrations. The effects of VOCs on O3 formation were investigated, based on propylene-equivalent concentrations (Prop-E), ozone formation potential (OFP), and Smog Production Model (SPM). It was found that the concentration of ozone during the sampling days tended to be highest in the downwind area while the concentrations of VOCs and NO2 in HP were rather low. The most reactive species were isoprene, ethylene, m-xylene, toluene, and propylene. The average total VOC volume mixing ratios in HP, XS, and ZH were 32.00, 36.63, and 50.34 ppbv, respectively. Bimodal profiles of propane and n-butane were exhibited in ZH while unimodal diurnal variation of isoprene was performed in HP. Liquefied petroleum gas/natural gas (LPG/NG) usage, aged background, and secondary source were identified as the major contributors to total VOCs in Hangzhou, accounting for 19.65%, 15.53%, and 18.93%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Energy Technologies and Photochemical Smog Formation)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 2478 KiB  
Article
One-Year Characterization and Reactivity of Isoprene and Its Impact on Surface Ozone Formation at A Suburban Site in Guangzhou, China
by Yu Zou, Xue Jiao Deng, Tao Deng, Chang Qin Yin and Fei Li
Atmosphere 2019, 10(4), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10040201 - 15 Apr 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4158
Abstract
Isoprene has a potentially large effect on ozone (O3) formation in the subtropical, highly polluted city of Guangzhou. Online measurements of isoprene in Guangzhou city are scarce; thus, isoprene levels were monitored for one year at the Guangzhou Panyu Atmospheric Composition [...] Read more.
Isoprene has a potentially large effect on ozone (O3) formation in the subtropical, highly polluted city of Guangzhou. Online measurements of isoprene in Guangzhou city are scarce; thus, isoprene levels were monitored for one year at the Guangzhou Panyu Atmospheric Composition Station (GPACS), a suburban site in Guangzhou, using an online gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC–FID) system to investigate the characterization and reactivity of isoprene and its effect on the O3 peak profile in different seasons. The results showed that the daily average mixing ratios of isoprene at GPACS were 0.40, 2.20, 1.40, and 0.13 mixing ratio by volume (ppbv) in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. These values were considerably higher than the mixing ratios of isoprene in the numerous other subtropical and temperate cities around the world. Furthermore, isoprene ranked first with regard to O3 formation potential (OFP) and propylene-equivalent mixing ratio among 56 measured non–methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). The ratios of isoprene to cis-2-butene, an exhaust tracer, were determined to estimate the fractions of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions. The results revealed a much greater contribution from biogenic than anthropogenic factors during the daytime in all four seasons. In addition, night-time isoprene emissions were mostly associated with vehicles in winter, and the residual isoprene that remained after photochemical loss during the daytime also persisted into the night. The high levels of isoprene in summer and autumn may cause the strong and broad peaks of the O3 profile because of its association with the most favorable meteorological conditions (e.g., high temperature and intense solar radiation) and the highest OH mixing ratio, which could affect human health by exposing people to a high O3 mixing ratio for prolonged periods. The lower mixing ratios of isoprene resulted in a weak and sharp peak in the O3 profile in both spring and winter. The high level of isoprene in the subtropical zone could accentuate its large impact on atmospheric oxidant capacity and air quality in Guangzhou city. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5953 KiB  
Article
Coupling between Land–Ocean–Atmosphere and Pronounced Changes in Atmospheric/Meteorological Parameters Associated with the Hudhud Cyclone of October 2014
by Akshansha Chauhan, Rajesh Kumar and Ramesh P. Singh
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(12), 2759; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122759 - 6 Dec 2018
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5174
Abstract
India is vulnerable to all kinds of natural hazards associated with land, ocean, biosphere, atmosphere, and snow/glaciers. These natural hazards impact large areas and the population living in the affected regions. India is surrounded by ocean on three sides and is vulnerable to [...] Read more.
India is vulnerable to all kinds of natural hazards associated with land, ocean, biosphere, atmosphere, and snow/glaciers. These natural hazards impact large areas and the population living in the affected regions. India is surrounded by ocean on three sides and is vulnerable to cyclonic activities. Every year cyclones hit the east and west coasts of India, affecting the population living along the coasts and infrastructure and inland areas. The extent of the affected inland areas depends on the intensity of the cyclone. On 12 October 2014, a strong cyclone “Hudhud” hit the east coast of India that caused a high degree of devastation along the coast. The impact of this cyclone was seen up to the Himalayan region. Detailed analysis of satellite and ground data show a strong coupling between land-ocean-atmosphere associated with the Hudhud cyclone. The contrast between land and ocean temperature was found to be closely related with the formation of the cyclone in the ocean and its movements towards land. Pronounced changes in the ocean, land, atmospheric, and meteorological parameters with the development of the cyclone and its landfall have been observed. Changes in total column ozone (TCO), relative humidity (RH), and volume mixing ratio of CO (CO VMR), water mixing ratio (H2O MMR), surface latent heat flux (SLHF), and aerosol optical properties derived from satellite data show characteristic behavior of the Hudhud cyclone. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2079 KiB  
Article
Aerosol and Meteorological Parameters Associated with the Intense Dust Event of 15 April 2015 over Beijing, China
by Sheng Zheng and Ramesh P. Singh
Remote Sens. 2018, 10(6), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10060957 - 15 Jun 2018
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4873
Abstract
The northeastern parts of China, including Beijing city, the capital of China, were hit by an intense dust storm on 15 April 2015. The present paper discusses aerosol and meteorological parameters associated with this dust storm event. The back trajectory clearly shows that [...] Read more.
The northeastern parts of China, including Beijing city, the capital of China, were hit by an intense dust storm on 15 April 2015. The present paper discusses aerosol and meteorological parameters associated with this dust storm event. The back trajectory clearly shows that the dust originated from Inner Mongolia, the border of China, and Mongolia regions. Pronounced changes in aerosol and meteorological parameters along the dust track were observed. High aerosol optical depth (AOD) with low Ångström exponent (AE) are characteristics of coarse-mode dominated dust particles in the wavelength range 440–870 nm during the dusty day. During dust storm, dominance of coarse aerosol concentrations is observed in the aerosol size distribution (ASD). The single scattering albedo (SSA) retrieved from AERONET station shows increase with higher wavelength on the dusty day, and is found to be higher compared to the days prior to and after the dust event, supported with high values of the real part and decrease in the imaginary part of the refractive index (RI). With regard to meteorological parameters, during the dusty day, CO volume mixing ratio (COVMR) is observed to decrease, from the surface up to mid-altitude, compared with the non-dusty days due to strong winds. O3 volume mixing ratio (O3VMR) enhances at the increasing altitudes (at the low-pressure levels), and decreases near the surface at the pressure levels 500–925 hPa during the dust event, compared with the non-dusty periods. An increase in the H2O mass mixing ratio (H2OMMR) is observed during dusty periods at the higher altitudes equivalent to the pressure levels 500 and 700 hPa. The mid-altitude relative humidity (RH) is observed to decrease at the pressure levels 700 and 925 hPa during sand storm days. With the onset of the dust storm event, the RH reduces at the surface level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Properties)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 6638 KiB  
Article
Mesospheric Inversion Layers at Mid-Latitudes and Coincident Changes of Ozone, Water Vapour and Horizontal Wind in the Middle Atmosphere
by Klemens Hocke, Martin Lainer, Leonie Bernet and Niklaus Kämpfer
Atmosphere 2018, 9(5), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9050171 - 3 May 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4514
Abstract
We analyse middle atmospheric profiles of temperature, geopotential height, water vapour volume mixing ratio, and ozone volume mixing ratio above Bern (46.95 N, 7.44 E). These profiles were observed by the satellite experiment Aura/MLS and the ground-based microwave radiometers MIAWARA and [...] Read more.
We analyse middle atmospheric profiles of temperature, geopotential height, water vapour volume mixing ratio, and ozone volume mixing ratio above Bern (46.95 N, 7.44 E). These profiles were observed by the satellite experiment Aura/MLS and the ground-based microwave radiometers MIAWARA and GROMOS at Bern. The data series of Aura/MLS and GROMOS extend from the winter 2004/2005 to the winter 2017/2018 while the MIAWARA series starts in winter 2007/2008. Mesospheric inversion layers (MILs) above Bern, Switzerland are often present during the winter season, and the temperature peak of the MIL is located at an altitude of about 81 km in winter. The occurrence rate of the MIL during the winter season above Bern is about 42%. The MILs are possibly associated with planetary wave breaking processes in the mesospheric surf zone at mid-latitudes during winter. The study only evaluates daily averages in order to reduce tidal influences. Composite atmospheric profiles are computed for times when the MIL is present and for times when the MIL is absent. The difference of the composites indicates that middle and upper stratospheric ozone are reduced by up to 7% when the MIL is present while lower mesospheric water vapour is enhanced by up to 20% during the MIL occurrence. Using wind data of ECMWF operational analysis, we find that eastward and northward winds are decelerated by about 5–15 m/s in the lower mesosphere during the occurrence of an MIL. We also find that the occurrence of an MIL above Bern is not a regional process, but it depends on the movements and deformations of the polar mesospheric vortex. During an MIL, the location of Bern is outside of the lower mesospheric vortex. These new findings of atmospheric composition and circulation changes support the assumption that winter MILs at mid-latitudes are connected to planetary wave breaking in the middle atmosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stratospheric Ozone)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 1027 KiB  
Article
OMI and Ground-Based In-Situ Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Observations over Several Important European Cities during 2005–2014
by Spiru Paraschiv, Daniel-Eduard Constantin, Simona-Lizica Paraschiv and Mirela Voiculescu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(11), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14111415 - 20 Nov 2017
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5463
Abstract
In this work we present the evolution of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) content over several important European cities during 2005–2014 using space observations and ground-based in-situ measurements. The NO2 content was derived using the daily observations provided by the Ozone [...] Read more.
In this work we present the evolution of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) content over several important European cities during 2005–2014 using space observations and ground-based in-situ measurements. The NO2 content was derived using the daily observations provided by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), while the NO2 volume mixing ratio measurements were obtained from the European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality monitoring stations database. The European cities selected are: Athens (37.98° N, 23.72° E), Berlin (52.51° N, 13.41° E), Bucharest (44.43° N, 26.10° E), Madrid (40.38° N, 3.71° W), Lisbon (38.71° N, 9.13° W), Paris (48.85° N, 2.35° E), Rome (41.9° N, 12.50° E), and Rotterdam (51.91° N, 4.46° E). We show that OMI NO2 tropospheric column data can be used to assess the evolution of NO2 over important European cities. According to the statistical analysis, using the seasonal variation, we found good correlations (R > 0.50) between OMI and ground-based in-situ observations for all of the cities presented in this work. Highest correlation coefficients (R > 0.80) between ground-based monitoring stations and OMI observations were calculated for the cities of Berlin, Madrid, and Rome. Both types of observations, in-situ and remote sensing, show an NO2 negative trend for all of locations presented in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation and Analysis of Soil, Air, and Water Pollution)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4303 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Surface NO2 Volume Mixing Ratio in Four Metropolitan Cities in Korea Using Multiple Regression Models with OMI and AIRS Data
by Daewon Kim, Hanlim Lee, Hyunkee Hong, Wonei Choi, Yun Gon Lee and Junsung Park
Remote Sens. 2017, 9(6), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9060627 - 18 Jun 2017
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6494
Abstract
Surface NO2 volume mixing ratio (VMR) at a specific time (13:45 Local time) (NO2 VMRST) and monthly mean surface NO2 VMR (NO2 VMRM) are estimated for the first time using three regression models with Ozone [...] Read more.
Surface NO2 volume mixing ratio (VMR) at a specific time (13:45 Local time) (NO2 VMRST) and monthly mean surface NO2 VMR (NO2 VMRM) are estimated for the first time using three regression models with Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) data in four metropolitan cities in South Korea: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Daejeon, and Gwangju. Relationships between the surface NO2 VMR obtained from in situ measurements (NO2 VMRIn-situ) and tropospheric NO2 vertical column density obtained from OMI from 2007 to 2013 were developed using regression models that also include boundary layer height (BLH) from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and surface pressure, temperature, dew point, and wind speed and direction. The performance of the regression models is evaluated via comparison with the NO2 VMRIn-situ for two validation years (2006 and 2014). Of the three regression models, a multiple regression model shows the best performance in estimating NO2 VMRST and NO2 VMRM. In the validation period, the average correlation coefficient (R), slope, mean bias (MB), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and percent difference between NO2 VMRIn-situ and NO2 VMRST estimated by the multiple regression model are 0.66, 0.41, −1.36 ppbv, 6.89 ppbv, 8.98 ppbv, and 31.50%, respectively, while the average corresponding values for the other two models are 0.75, 0.41, −1.40 ppbv, 3.59 ppbv, 4.72 ppbv, and 16.59%, respectively. All three models have similar performance for NO2 VMRM, with average R, slope, MB, MAE, RMSE, and percent difference between NO2 VMRIn-situ and NO2 VMRM of 0.74, 0.49, −1.90 ppbv, 3.93 ppbv, 5.05 ppbv, and 18.76%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Pollution)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop