Validation of Speciated Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Compound Data Collected During the 1992 Atlanta Intensive as Part of the Southern Oxidants Study (SOS)

Abstract

Abstract Volatile hydrocarbons play an important role in the photochemical formation of tropospheric ozone, especially in urban atmospheres. In order to assess the significance and relative impact of biogenic and anthropogenic hydrocarbon emissions as precursors of ozone formation, a program to monitor a suite of 56 common nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), the 1992 Atlanta Intensive, was implemented as part of the Southern Oxidants Study (SOS). During the last decade, Atlanta has averaged approximately 12 days of ozone nonattainment per year, typically occurring in summer during periods of air stagnation. Under current EPA guidelines, this classifies the Atlanta metropolitan area as having a serious ozone nonattainment problem. This study constituted a significant example of an intensive data collection effort for NMHCs. Three independent laboratory groups using a common standard operating procedure were involved in the analysis of both time integrated (hourly) and discrete canister samples collected over ...