Long-Term Tendencies of Carbon Monoxide in the Atmosphere of the Moscow Megapolis

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of measurements of CO total content (CO TC) at stations of the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS), in Moscow and Moscow oblast. Also CO in-situ data obtained from automated stations of the Mosecomonitoring network, satellite monitoring results and information on the parameters of the atmospheric boundary layer in Moscow and the surrounding regions are analyzed. The long-term variability of CO TC and meteorological parameters is investigated, the carbon monoxide accumulation characteristics in calm days in the atmospheric boundary layer are obtained. A decrease in the average annual values ​​of TC CO in 2000–2018 was found in Moscow (–2.56 ± 0.52%/year) and at the Zvenigorod Scientific Station (ZSS) (‒1.15 ± 0.37%/year). However, the rate of decrease in both sites is different in different seasons and periods. After about 2007–2008, the rate of CO TC reduction decreased at both sites. In 2008–2018, at the ZSS, an increase in CO TC was recorded in the summer and autumn months at a rate of about 0.7%/year. An increase in the wind speed in the atmospheric boundary layer of Moscow in different periods of 2000–2018 at a rate of 0.4–1.6%/year has been determined. At the same time, no statistically significant changes in wind speed were found in Kaluga oblast. The recurrence of calm days in Moscow in 2006–2017 decreased (–7.06 ± 3.96%/year) with a decrease in the anthropogenic part of the CO content in the same period (–6.72 ± 3.48%/year). The results indicate the influence of the climatic (meteorological) factor on air quality in Moscow.