On the relationship between high ozone in the rural surface layer and high pressure systems

Abstract

The relationship of high ozone (ozone in excess of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards—NAAQS) with high pressure systems was examined using data collected in the summer of 1973, 1974 and 1975. It was found that high surface ozone occurred most often when a high pressure system was near a reporting station. Long periods of high ozone were associated with long-term buildups of high pressure greater than 20 days. High ozone occurred most often on the back side of the high pressure system in air that had large residence times in the system. This suggested that time was required to develop large or critical concentrations of ozone precursors. It was shown that high ozone occurred most often when the high pressure system was in the eastern portions of the United States. The evidence indicated that as the high pressure system moved from west to east, the air in the high had larger concentrations of ozone precursors and destructive agents when it was in the east. This suggested an injection of these constituents in the east. Furthermore, there appeared to be a change in the role of synthesis and destruction of ozone between 1973 and 1974 or 1975.