A one-dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere with planetary boundary-layer parameterization

Abstract

The results from a one-dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere representative of summertime conditions at Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes are presented. A parameterization of mixing processes within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) has been incorporated into the model for both the daytime convective PBL and the formation of the nocturnal PBL. One result of the parameterized PBL is that the concentrations of some trace species in the free troposphere are 20–30% higher than when mixing processes are described by a vertical eddy diffusion coefficient which is held constant with respect to height and time. The calculations indicate that the lifetime of the oxides of nitrogen (NO x =NO+NO2) against photochemical conversion to nitric acid (HNO3) during summertime conditions is on the order of 6 h. This lifetime is short enough to deplete most of the NO x in the PBL, resulting in the finding that other reactive nitrogen species (HNO3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate) are more abundant than NO x throughout the free troposphere, even though NO x is the most abundant reactive nitrogen species at the surface. The effects of the inclusion of anthropogenic nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) chemistry are also discussed. The inclusion of NMHC chemistry has a pronounced effect on the photochemistry of tropospheric oxone and increases thein situ column production by more than 30%.