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Evaluation of stratospheric intrusions and biomass burning plumes on the vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone over the Midwestern U.S
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  • Joseph Wilkins,
  • Benjamin de Foy,
  • Anne Thompson,
  • David Peterson,
  • Edward Hyer,
  • Charles Graves,
  • Jack Fishman,
  • Gary Morris
Joseph Wilkins
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Saint Louis University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Benjamin de Foy
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
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Anne Thompson
NASA/Goddard Space Flight CenterEarth Sciences Division
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David Peterson
Naval Research Laboratory
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Edward Hyer
Naval Research Laboratory
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Charles Graves
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University
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Jack Fishman
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University
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Gary Morris
St. Edwards's University
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Abstract

Naturally occurring ozone rich Stratosphere-to-Troposphere Transport (STT) intrusions and biomass burning (BB) plumes reaching the surface can contribute to exceedances of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone (70 ppbv implemented in 2015). Additionally, fires can inject significant pollution into the free troposphere where it can be transported long distances. The combined air quality impacts from these sources on ozone has only been analyzed in a few case studies for the Midwest U.S. Here we study ozone impacts in a Midwestern city, for the first time in St. Louis, Missouri, using a series of ozonesonde profiles taken during the SEAC4RS (Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys) field campaign in August-September 2013. All ozonesondes showed enhancements above the background profile levels (~55 ppbv) throughout each tropospheric column. Two models were used to estimate ozone origins in columns. A chemical transport model identified STT enhancements equivalent to 10 to 15 ppbv over the background with a 10 to 15% contribution overall to the column. Two FLEXPART-WRF simulations, one with smoke in the boundary layer and another with smoke above, identified BB enhancements equivalent to 10 to 80 ppbv. Overall, the total BB contribution is 15 to 30% of the total column. Five ozonesondes showed signatures of mixed BB plumes and STT intrusions. During this study period, BB in the western U.S. contributed 70% to ozone enhancements in the total column compared to 3% from the central U.S and 27% from other areas.
27 Sep 2020Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres volume 125 issue 18. 10.1029/2020JD032454