Ground-level Ozone Measurements Research Articles

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ОЗОНА НАД ТЕРРИТОРИЕЙ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ В ТРЕТЬЕМ КВАРТАЛЕ 2023 Г

The review was compiled based on the results of the operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring system over Russia and adjacent territories, operating online at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses data from the domestic network of filter ozonometers M-124, operating under the methodological guidance of the Main Geophysical Observatory; The quality of operation of the entire system is quickly monitored using observations from OMI satellite equipment (NASA, USA). The main TO observation data for each month of the third quarter of 2023 and for the quarter as a whole are summarized. The results of regular measurements of ground-level ozone carried out in the Moscow region are also presented.

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ОЗОНА НАД ТЕРРИТОРИЕЙ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ ВО ВТОРОМ КВАРТАЛЕ 2022 Г

The review is based on the results of operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring system over the CIS and Baltic countries, operating in the operational mode at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses data from the domestic network of M-124 filter ozonometers, operating under the methodological guidance of the Main Geophysical Observatory; the quality of the entire system is operatively controlled in the Central Administrative District by comparison with the observational data made with the help of the OMI satellite equipment (NASA, USA). The main TO observational data for each month of the second quarter of 2022 and for the quarter as a whole are summarized. The results of regular measurements of ground-level ozone carried out in the Moscow region are also summarized.

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ОЗОНА НАД ТЕРРИТОРИЕЙ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ В ПЕРВОМ КВАРТАЛЕ 2022 Г

The review is based on the results of operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring system over the CIS and Baltic countries, operating in the operational mode at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses data from the domestic network of M-124 filter ozonometers, operating under the methodological guidance of the Main Geophysical Observatory; the quality of the entire system is operatively controlled in the Central Administrative District by comparison with the observational data made with the help of the OMI satellite equipment (NASA, USA). The main TO observational data for each month of the first quarter of 2022 and for the quarter as a whole are summarized. The results of regular measurements of ground-level ozone carried out in the Moscow region are also summarized.

Long-term measurements of ground-level ozone in Windsor, Canada and surrounding areas

This study investigated temporal variability of ground-level ozone (O3) during smog season in Windsor, Canada and surrounding states of the US during 1996–2015. Cluster analysis classified six sites into two groups with similar features of O3 concentrations. The first group consists of four urban/suburban sites, Windsor, Allen Park and Lansing in Michigan, and Erie in Ohio, and the second group includes two rural sites, Delaware and National Trail School in Ohio. The similarities among all six sites include (1) diurnal and seasonal variability of O3 concentrations owing to similar weather conditions, and (2) decreasing peak O3 (95th percentile) concentrations due to reduced emissions of precursors, thus less photochemical O3 formation. However, how O3 levels changed with reduced NOX emissions during the study period and on weekends differed between the two groups. Lower O3 concentrations were recorded at urban/suburban sites (30 ppb) than at rural sites (34 ppb). At urban sites, annual smog season O3 concentrations increased by 0.12–3.2 ppb/year. The increasing trends occurred at all percentile levels except for 95th percentile and in most months, due to weakened NO titration effect. At the rural sites, smog-season O3 concentrations decreased by 0.01–2.71 ppb/year. The decreasing trends were observed at 50-95th percentile levels and in most months. Between the two groups, the urban/suburban group had a greater increment in weekend O3 concentrations (3.3 vs. 1.6 ppb) due to a greater reduction of local NO emissions on weekend, thus, weakened NO titration effect. Overall, O3 formation was more sensitive to VOCs during the study period; however, the O3 formation regime gradually shifted toward more sensitive to NOX during 1996–2007 then became more sensitive to VOCs during 2008–2015. Therefore, controlling anthropogenic VOC emissions is needed to effectively mitigate O3 pollution in the study region.

Multi-scale time dependent correlation between synchronous measurements of ground-level ozone and meteorological parameters in the Caribbean Basin

Ground-level ozone (O3) is a major air pollutant which is strongly links to weather conditions. To our knowledge, there are few analysis of O3 behavior in Caribbean region. The aim of this paper is to study the correlation between O3 and meteorological parameters (i.e., solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) in a multi-scale way. Firstly, we estimate their Fourier power spectra and consider their scaling properties in the physical space. The power spectra computed follows a power law behavior for all datasets. Thereafter, the multiple scale dynamics and the correlations between simultaneous measurements of O3 and meteorological parameters was analyzed using the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) based methods. After EMD decomposition of each time series, we investigate their local correlations using a new cross-correlation technique termed Time Dependent Intrinsic Correlation method (TDIC). The time evolution and the scale dependence of their correlation are determined at different time scales and for different intrinsic modes functions. All measured TDICs have highlighted strong correlations between O3 and meteorological parameters. The impact of weather conditions (e.g., drought, rainfall, windy period) have been locally observed on O3 formation for all the time scales. This study shows that TDIC method is a powerful tool for perform multi-scale cross-correlation analysis in air pollution field.

Measurements of ground-level ozone in Czech mountain forests: what we have learnt from using diffusive samplers

Ground-level ozone (O3) is a key atmospheric constituent participating in many important atmospheric reactions, and has many negative effects both on human health and the environment. We have measured O3 ambient concentrations in four Czech rural areas of great natural value: the Orlicke hory Mts., Novohradske hory Mts., Česke Švycarsko and Jizerske hory Mts. For our measurement we used Ogawa diffusive samplers. The measurements were carried out during the vegetations seasons of 2004–2010, the samplers were exposed for two-weeks periods and the filters analyzed in the CHMI laboratory. The aim of this paper is to summarize the experience we have of using the diffusive sampling method in the field.

Nationwide ground-level ozone measurements in China suggest serious risks to forests

We processed hourly ozone (O3) concentrations collected in 2015 and in 2016 by a network of 1497 stations across China, with the main aim of assessing the risk that present ambient O3 exposure is posing to Chinese forests. Our results indicate that the values of the metrics AOT40 (the accumulated hourly O3 concentrations above 40 ppb during daylight hours) recommended as European Union standard, and W126 (the sum of weighted hourly concentrations from 8:00 to 20:00) recommended as USA standard for forest protection, exceeded the critical levels (5 ppm h across 6 months for AOT40 and 7–21 ppm h over 3 months for W126) on average by 5.1 and 1.2 times, respectively. N100 showed on average 65 annual exceedances of 100 ppb as hourly value. The 12-h and 24-h averages showed a small difference, suggesting high concentrations also at night. Risk was higher for the northern temperate climate than for the southern tropical and sub-tropical climates, and overall for the northern regions than for the southern regions. Higher risk occurred in the non-urban areas than in the urban areas in northern, south-west and north-west China, whereas risk was higher at urban areas in eastern and southern China. The overall results of this first nationwide assessment suggest a significant risk for forests over the entire China and warrant for urgent measures for controlling O3 precursor emissions and establishing standards of protection.

The 1-way on-line coupled model system MECO(n) – Part 4: Chemical evaluation (based on MESSy v2.52)

Abstract. For the first time, a simulation incorporating tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry using the newly developed MECO(n) model system is performed. MECO(n) is short for MESSy-fied ECHAM and COSMO models nested n times. It features an online coupling of the COSMO-CLM model, equipped with the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) interface (called COSMO/MESSy), with the global atmospheric chemistry model ECHAM5/MESSy for Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC). This online coupling allows a consistent model chain with respect to chemical and meteorological boundary conditions from the global scale down to the regional kilometre scale. A MECO(2) simulation incorporating one regional instance over Europe with 50 km resolution and one instance over Germany with 12 km resolution is conducted for the evaluation of MECO(n) with respect to tropospheric gas-phase chemistry. The main goal of this evaluation is to ensure that the chemistry-related MESSy submodels and the online coupling with respect to the chemistry are correctly implemented. This evaluation is a prerequisite for the further usage of MECO(n) in atmospheric chemistry-related studies. Results of EMAC and the two COSMO/MESSy instances are compared with satellite, ground-based and aircraft in situ observations, focusing on ozone, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Further, the methane lifetimes in EMAC and the two COSMO/MESSy instances are analysed in view of the tropospheric oxidation capacity. From this evaluation, we conclude that the chemistry-related submodels and the online coupling with respect to the chemistry are correctly implemented. In comparison with observations, both EMAC and COSMO/MESSy show strengths and weaknesses. Especially in comparison to aircraft in situ observations, COSMO/MESSy shows very promising results. However, the amplitude of the diurnal cycle of ground-level ozone measurements is underestimated. Most of the differences between COSMO/MESSy and EMAC can be attributed to differences in the dynamics of both models, which are subject to further model developments.

Measurements of ozone and its precursor nitrogen dioxide and crop yield losses due to cumulative ozone exposures over 40 ppb (AOT40) in rural coastal southern India

Measurements of ground level ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and meteorological parameters (air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed and direction) has been made for 3 years from March 2007 to February 2010 at Nagercoil (8.2°N, 77.5°E, 23 m above sea level), an equatorial rural coastal site of southern India. The monthly average of daytime maximum of O3 concentrations ranged from 28 to 50 parts per billion (ppb) with an annual average of 19.8 ppb. Similarly, monthly average of NO2 concentration ranged from 3.4 ppb to 7.7 ppb with an annual average of 5.3 ppb. The monthly variation of meteorological parameters shows the little changes being a coastal site. The estimated summer crops yield losses by 1.1–15.6 % from present O3 concentration level associated with AOT40 index 3.1–5 ppm h.

Modelling ambient ozone in an urban area using an objective model and geostatistical algorithms

Ground-level tropospheric ozone is one of the air pollutants of most concern. Ozone levels continue to exceed both target values and the long-term objectives established in EU legislation to protect human health and prevent damage to ecosystems, agricultural crops and materials. Researchers or decision-makers frequently need information about atmospheric pollution patterns in urbanized areas. The preparation of this type of information is a complex task, due to the influence of several factors and their variability over time.In this work, some results of urban ozone distribution patterns in the city of Badajoz, which is the largest (140,000 inhabitants) and most industrialized city in Extremadura region (southwest Spain) are shown. Twelve sampling campaigns, one per month, were carried out to measure ambient air ozone concentrations, during periods that were selected according to favourable conditions to ozone production, using an automatic portable analyzer.Later, to evaluate the overall ozone level at each sampling location during the time interval considered, the measured ozone data were analysed using a new methodology based on the formulation of the Rasch model. As a result, a measure of overall ozone level which consolidates the monthly ground-level ozone measurements was obtained, getting moreover information about the influence on the overall ozone level of each monthly ozone measure. Finally, overall ozone level at locations where no measurements were available was estimated with geostatistical techniques and hazard assessment maps based on the spatial distribution of ozone were also generated.

Ground-level ozone and ozone vertical profile measurements close to the foothills of the Guadarrama mountain range (Spain)

Continuous measurements of ozone vertical profiles, OVP, in the low troposphere (around 500–2400 m) using an unattended commercial ozone profiler DIAL, were conducted during June–July 2004 in Segovia, SG, a small city in the upper plateau located close to the foothills of the Guadarrama mountain range, Guadarrama, in the Central Massif. The data obtained over almost 37 complete days have enabled us to characterise the ozone vertical exchange, describe the phenomenology of the main ozone peaks, OP, recorded in the city and their relationship with ozone transport/formation from the gas precursor emissions of the greater Madrid area across Guadarrama. To achieve the last objective concurrent measurements of ground-level ozone in SG and a representative monitoring station upwind from Guadarrama, Buitrago de Lozoya, BL, have been used. 72.2% of the concurrent maximum diurnal ozone peaks exceeding the 95 percentile hourly value in SG (OPSG) and BL (OPBL) were linked to ozone transport and formation from the greater Madrid area towards Guadarrama. An estimate of the contribution of the greater Madrid area on OPSG yielded 28 μg m −3. The most prominent ozone vertical stratification was linked to the mixing height, MH, and a frequent nocturnal stable layer formed, NSL. Three small ozone enriched-layers were identified at mean heights of 500, 700 and 1000 m, respectively. Ozone tended to decline versus altitude. The hourly patterns of the three layers showed two peak occurrences of similar amplitude in the early morning, 7–8 h, and mid-afternoon, 14–16 h. A minimum was also observed during daytime, 10–11 h, its origin being attributed to a dilution process induced by the “chimney effect” caused by the slopes heating during this period. The comparison between OPSG, and the maximum diurnal ozone peaks in the first layer, OL1P, showed a satisfactory relationship, correlation coefficient, r, of the linear fit 0.77, and comparable mean values, 127 and 130 μg m −3, respectively, revealing the presence of an uniform ozone vertical distribution in the 500 m atmospheric layer above ground level during mid-afternoon.

Data assimilation of ozone in the atmospheric transport chemistry model LOTOS

Modelled ozone concentrations often differ from measured concentrations quite substantially, partly due to measurement errors, but mainly due to uncertainties in the model. Modelling studies would therefore benefit highly from more reliable model simulations. One way to achieve this is the application of data assimilation, a technique that uses measurement information within the model simulation in a way that is consistent with the model itself. This aim of this paper is to show that this is indeed one way to go with atmospheric transport chemistry models (ATCMs) by presenting results of data assimilation simulations of ozone with the model LOTOS. The assimilation technique used in this study is the Ensemble Kalman Filter. A simulation for a period of 4 weeks has been performed in which ground-level ozone measurements have been assimilated. The necessary noise input consisted of uncertainties in the emissions of NO x, SO x, VOC and CO in 17 groups of countries. The main conclusion is that it is possible to improve ATCM simulations of ozone by data assimilation, but that noise inputs other than emissions only are essential for the reduction of the differences between measured and modelled concentrations to acceptable margins.

Ethylene diurea (EDU) protection against ozone injury in tomato plants at Delhi.

Air pollution has become an increasingly serious problem in developing countries. Ozone is the most phytotoxic gaseous air pollutant. Ground level ozone measurements carried out at Delhi during 1990 -1992 show that the ambient concentration of ozone varies between 20 to 273 μg m , and the one hour WHO ozone standard of 110.74 μg m , was violated on many occasions (Varshney and Aggarwal, 1992). Heck et al., 1982 have shown that out of total crop loss caused by air pollution in USA, about 90% of the crop loss is attributed to ozone. Ethylene diurea (EDU) has been shown to be specific in protecting plants against ozone injury because it is an strong anti-oxidant (Carnahan et al., 1978). Exploratory studies have been carried out to evaluate the protective role of EDU against ozone damage in cereals, legumes and vegetables (Astorino et al., 1995; Brennan et al., 1990; Brunschon-Harti, 1995; Clarke et al., 1990; Hofstra et al., 1978; Kostaka-Rick and Manning, 1992, 1993; Tonneijck and Vandijk, 1997). In India Bambawale (1986) have shown that the leaf spot disease of potato reported from Punjab in 1978 was primarily due to ozone pollution and foliar spray of EDU was found to reduce about 25-30%leaf spot disease. Higher yield in EDU-treated plants in comparison to untreated plants has been attributed to the specific protective effect of EDU against ozone damage (Clarke et al., 1990; Saettler, 1981; Smith et al., 1987).

Ground-Level Ozone in Eastern Canada: Seasonal Variations, Trends, and Occurrences of High Concentrations

Over the past few years, concern has increased in Canada over the health and environmental impacts of elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone. During the summer the most populated regions of Canada frequently record ozone concentrations that exceed the one-hour average maximum acceptable air quality objective of 32 parts per billion (ppb). In 1988 the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment agreed to develop a federal/provincial management plan to control nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions to reduce ozone concentrations in all affected regions of the country. In addition to the proposed interim control measures, the plan recommended that studies be undertaken to acquire the information necessary to develop sound control strategies. This report represents one of those studies and provides a summary of ground-level ozone measurements for eastern Canada for the 1980 to 1991 period with an emphasis on seasonal variations, trends, and occurrences of high concentrations. South...

Measurements of climatic parameters and ground-level ozone at Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica

The results of local meteorology, solar radiation and ground-level ozone measurements taken in Antarctica during the second Italian expedition (December 86–February 87) at Terra Nova Bay are presented. During the summer months the site of the Italian base camp is characterized by a thin strip of deglaciated ground, along which the temperature measurements close to the ground and up to 6 m high show a strongly superdiabatic profile. This irregular trend of the temperature in the surface layer is mainly due to the notable incoming amounts of radiation and to the extreme transparency of the atmosphere. This is also shown by the low values of the ratio between total radiation and diffuse radiation. The ground is thus subjected to intense heating, especially in the warmer hours of the day, while the surface layer of the atmosphere will be characterized by strong upward heat fluxes and by turbulent convective movements. Vertical-temperature-profile measurements show an almost forced persistence in the superdiabatic trend, which tends towards isothermic values only as a resultof rapid variations in the direction and intensity of the wind, connected to the downward flux of cold air masses, shown also by the simultaneous increases in ground-level ozone concentrations which would support the presence of dry-deposition processes in the lower layer. However, the complex local orography and the horizontal discontinuity (sea, deglaciated coast, snow-covered surfaces) do not permit a correct application of profile flux relations, normally used in studies on groundlevel dry-deposition.

The contribution of middle- and long-range transport of tropospheric photochemical ozone to pollution at a rural site in North-West England

Ground-level ozone measurements from a rural site in North-West England are presented. Two distinct types of polluted air mass are identified: one type having passed over the North Sea and Northern England, and the other having travelled from the continent via the South-East and Midlands of England. The former air mass type contains long-range transported ozone originating primarily within continental Europe, whilst the latter type contains both long-range transported ozone and ozone formed from precursors injected during passage of the air mass over middle-distance source areas in England. The monitoring results are compared with the predictions of recent theoretical models of ozone formation in polluted air masses and urban plumes.

Geographical Properties of Ozone Concentrations in the Northeastern United States

Hourly, ground-level ozone measurements from 41 sites In eastern New York, northern New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts from May 1, 1974 to September 30, 1974 are analyzed. Nighttime concentrations, relative to those during the day, are highest in Massachusetts; more specifically, the ratio of the upper quartile of hourly average O3 concentrations at 1500 hours EST to the upper quartile at 0100 hours EST decreases with increasing distance from New York City, which is in the center of the tri-state urban complex (northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut and New York City). The site distributions of daily maximum concentrations are highest in the Stamford-Greenwich region of Connecticut and next highest in a region to the east and northeast of Stamford-Greenwich.