Investigate Wildfire Impacts on Ozone Production by Vertical Observations and Photochemical Modeling

Bo Wang,Arastoo Biazar,Michael Newchurch,Shi Kuang,D Liu,B Gross,Y Wang,F Moshary,Y Wu

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202023703014

Abstract

In troposphere, ozone is a toxic secondary pollutant produced when its precursors react in sunlight. An important source of ozone precursors is biomass burning. Here we investigate the impacts of 2016 Southeast U.S. Wildfires on ozone production by integrating vertical resolved ozone profiles and photochemical modeling. The results show that wildfires contributed to ozone lamina at the top of boundary layer and enhanced surface ozone up to about 10ppbv in Southeast U.S.. Ozone lidar observed a lower ozone change with respect to a fast growth of aerosol plume, of which the reason is also investigated. Current results indicate an effective integration of vertical observations and modeling for us to understand the ozone production from fires in troposphere.

Highlights

Tropospheric ozone (O3) plays an important role in climate and affects air quality. It is transported from stratosphere or produced by photochemical reactions of its precursor gases that are emitted by multiple sources (e.g. vegetation, lightning, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning (BB)) [1]
It is fairly well established that BB can release substantial O3 precursors that react in the presence of sunlight [2], and affect regional air quality or far downwind by long-range transport [3, 4]
Specific objectives include: (1) Identify and quantify fire impacts on vertical ozone profiles; (2) Estimate the potential impacts on surface ozone when smoke interacts with boundary layer; (3) Explore the dynamical and chemical driver for the observed ozone variations in smoke plumes

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Tropospheric ozone (O3) plays an important role in climate and affects air quality. It is transported from stratosphere or produced by photochemical reactions of its precursor gases that are emitted by multiple sources (e.g. vegetation, lightning, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning (BB)) [1]. It is fairly well established that BB can release substantial O3 precursors (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons) that react in the presence of sunlight [2], and affect regional air quality or far downwind by long-range transport [3, 4]. We report a case study of wildfires. The main goal is to investigate the wildfire impacts on ozone production. Specific objectives include: (1) Identify and quantify fire impacts on vertical ozone profiles; (2) Estimate the potential impacts on surface ozone when smoke interacts with boundary layer; (3) Explore the dynamical and chemical driver for the observed ozone variations in smoke plumes

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS

Vertical observations analysis

CONCLUSIONS