O3 Column Research Articles

Satellite measurement data-based assessment of spatiotemporal characteristics of ultraviolet index (UVI) over the state of Johor, Malaysia

The study examines the spatiotemporal and statistical characteristics of the daily ultraviolet index (UVI) over the Johor state of Malaysia. The datasets utilized in this study are the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)/Aura satellite’s daily UVI observations between October 2004 and March 2023. The innovative trend analysis (ITA) method is employed to identify the statistical trend of daily UVI. Basic statistics of daily, monthly, and seasonal UVI are also carried out to better characterize UVI in the study area. The daily UVI data collected for the analysis exhibit wide variability, with more than 80% of the daily UVI data falling above UVI 8, indicating the severity of UV radiation (UVR) reaching the study area. The monthly and seasonal UVI also display highly varying characteristics, as observed in the daily data. The pixel-based analysis of ITA results indicates a significant increasing and decreasing trend of daily UVI in the region, with values varying between − 9.42 × 10−6 and 3.79 × 10−5. However, for the study area as a whole, UVI shows a significant increasing trend of 4.50 × 10−5. The influence of parameters such as cloud optical thickness (COT), solar zenith angle (SZA), and O3 column on the strength of UVR reaching the study area is also investigated. Based on the results, the study area is characterized by low thickness, broken clouds, and sometimes cloudless conditions. Overall, the results show that UVI in the study area is increasing, and therefore, proper health guidelines and direct UVR exposure regulations need to be implemented to reduce serious health risks associated with UVR exposure.Graphical

Molecular Oxygen Abundance in Galactic Massive Star Formation Regions Based on SWAS Observations

Molecular oxygen abundance is a key parameter in understanding the chemical network of the interstellar medium. We estimate the molecular oxygen column density and abundance for a sample of Galactic massive star formation regions based on observations from the Submillimiter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) survey. We obtained an averaged O2 spectrum based on this sample using the (SWAS) survey data (O2, 487.249 GHz, N = 3–1, J = 3–2). No emission or absorption feature is seen around the supposed central velocity with a total integration time of t total = 8.67 × 103 hr and an rms noise per channel of 1.45 mK. Assuming a kinetic temperature T kin = 30 K, we derive the 3σ upper limit of the O2 column density to be 3.3 × 1015 cm−2, close to the lowest values reported in Galactic massive star formation regions in previous studies. The corresponding O2 abundance upper limit is 6.7 × 10−8, lower than all previous results based on SWAS observations and is close to the lowest reported value in massive star formation regions. On a galactic scale, our statistical results confirm a generally low O2 abundance for Galactic massive star formation regions. This abundance is also lower than results reported in extragalactic sources.

Global agricultural N2O emission reduction strategies deliver climate benefits with minimal impact on stratospheric O3 recovery

Agricultural nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reduction strategies are required given the potency of N2O as a greenhouse gas. However, the growing influence of N2O on stratospheric ozone (O3) with declining stratospheric chlorine means the wider atmospheric impact of N2O reductions requires investigation. We calculate a N2O emission reduction of 1.35 TgN2O yr-1 (~5% of 2020 emissions) using spatially separate deployment of nitrification inhibitors ($70–113 tCO2e−1) and crushed basalt (no-cost co-benefit) which also sequesters CO2. In Earth System model simulations for 2025–2075 under high (SSP3-7.0) and low (SSP1-2.6) surface warming scenarios, this N2O mitigation reduces NOx-driven O3 destruction, driving regional stratospheric O3 increases but with minimal impact on total O3 column recovery. By 2075, the radiative forcing of the combined N2O and CO2 reductions equates to a beneficial 9–11 ppm CO2 removal. Our results support targeted agricultural N2O emission reductions for helping nations reach net-zero without hindering O3 recovery.

Magnetospheric‐Ionospheric‐Atmospheric Implications From the Juno Flyby of Ganymede

AbstractJuno flew over the northern mid‐latitudes of Ganymede during orbit 34 of the Juno mission, reaching an altitude of 1,053 km (16:56:07.972 UTC) at a sub spacecraft latitude/longitude of 33.66N, 57.5W degrees on 7 June 2021. Between 16:43 and 17:02 UT, Juno pierced Ganymede's magnetosphere at a velocity relative to Ganymede of 18.57 km s−1. Juno's instrumentation provided a unique opportunity to sample the local environment of Ganymede and its magnetosphere. We present measurements of the composition of the polar ionospheric outflow and the energetic electrons that penetrate Ganymede's atmosphere and produce its aurora. When these new observations are combined with modeling, conclusions can be drawn that affect our understanding of the atmosphere of Ganymede. The measured JADE precipitating plasma electrons provide an energy flux beyond that needed to create the observed oxygen emissions measured by UVS, but the electron energy spectrum is optically thin to the sparse atmosphere and does not provide the observed oxygen ultraviolet emission unless the O2 column density is increased by over an order of magnitude compared to previous atmospheric models. More than 99% of the electron energy flux passes through the atmosphere into the ice, thereby increasing the H2 and O2 content of the atmosphere. The increased H2 and O2 production is largely responsible for increasing the oxygen column density to a level that produces within known uncertainties the OI135.6 and OI130.4 nm emissions when bombarded by the electron energy flux observed by JADE. This suggests that past modeling efforts have underestimated the density of the atmosphere by over an order of magnitude.

Understanding the spatial and seasonal variation of the ground-level ozone in Southeast China with an interpretable machine learning and multi-source remote sensing

Ground-level ozone (O3) pollution poses significant threats to both human health and air quality. This study uses ground observations and satellite retrievals to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of ground-level O3 in Zhejiang Province, China. We created data-driven machine learning models that include meteorological, geographical and atmospheric parameters from multi-source remote sensing products, achieving good performance (Pearson's r of 0.81) in explaining regional O3 dynamics. Analyses revealed the crucial roles of temperature, relative humidity, total column O3, and the distributions and interactions of precursor (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) in driving the varied O3 patterns observed in Zhejiang. Furthermore, the interpretable modeling quantified multifactor interactions that sustain high O3 levels in spring and autumn, suppress O3 levels in summer, and inhibit O3 formation in winter. This work demonstrates the value of a combined approach using satellite and machine learning as an effective novel tool for regional air quality assessment and control.

Impact of Lightning‐Induced Nitrogen Oxides Over and Around the Tibetan Plateau on the Tibetan Plateau Ozone Valley

AbstractLightning‐induced nitrogen oxides (LNOx) can affect ozone (O3) through photochemical processes. However, the impact of LNOx on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) O3 valley, an area with a lower O3 column compared to surrounding areas, remains controversial. Prior to this study, the impact of monsoonal transport on LNOx and related effects on the TP O3 valley has been overlooked. The objectives of this study are to differentiate between locally generated LNOx and monsoon‐transported LNOx over the TP and to evaluate their impacts on tropospheric NOx vertical column density, tropospheric column O3, and O3 at different altitudes. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry model was used to replicate LNOx, NOx, and O3 over the TP during July 2010, for which nesting techniques and sensitivity experiments were implemented. The findings emphasize the importance of LNOx as a source of NOx in this region, with nonlocal lightning activity being the primary source. Conversely, the influence of locally generated LNOx on NOx levels over the TP is comparatively minor. Overall, LNOx contributes to an increase in O3 over the TP, but one order lower than the O3 depletion. The impact of LNOx on O3 varies across different altitude ranges; it is broadly “C” shaped, reflecting increase in O3 at near‐surface and in upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) regions and decrease in the middle troposphere. The increase in surface‐level O3 over the TP is mainly caused by monsoon‐transported LNOx, while locally generated LNOx also plays a crucial role in O3 formation in the UTLS region.

Degenerate Interpretations of O3 Spectral Features in Exoplanet Atmosphere Observations Due to Stellar UV Uncertainties: A 3D Case Study with TRAPPIST-1 e

TRAPPIST-1 e is a potentially habitable terrestrial exoplanet orbiting an ultracool M dwarf star and is a key target for observations with the James Webb Space Telescope. One-dimensional photochemical modeling of terrestrial planetary atmospheres has shown the importance of the incoming stellar UV flux in modulating the concentration of chemical species, such as O3 and H2O. In addition, three-dimensional (3D) modeling has demonstrated anisotropy in chemical abundances due to transport in tidally locked exoplanet simulations. We use the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model Version 6 (WACCM6), a 3D Earth system model, to investigate how uncertainties in the incident UV flux, combined with transport, affect observational predictions for TRAPPIST-1 e (assuming an initial Earth-like atmospheric composition). We use two semiempirical stellar spectra for TRAPPIST-1 from the literature. The UV flux ratio between them can be as large as a factor of 5000 in some wavelength bins. Consequently, the photochemically produced total O3 columns differ by a factor of 26. Spectral features of O3 in both transmission and emission spectra vary between these simulations (e.g., differences of 20 km in the transmission spectrum effective altitude for O3 at 0.6 μm). This leads to potential ambiguities when interpreting observations, including overlap with scenarios that assume alternative O2 concentrations. Hence, to achieve robust interpretations of terrestrial exoplanetary spectra, characterization of the UV spectra of their host stars is critical. In the absence of such stellar measurements, atmospheric context can still be gained from other spectral features (e.g., H2O), or by comparing direct imaging and transmission spectra in conjunction.

A new accurate retrieval algorithm of bromine monoxide columns inside minor volcanic plumes from Sentinel-5P TROPOMI observations

Abstract. Bromine monoxide (BrO) is a key radical in the atmosphere, influencing the chemical state of the atmosphere, most notably the abundance of ozone (O3). O3 depletion caused by the release of bromine has been observed and modeled in polar regions, salt pans, and in particular inside volcanic plumes. Furthermore, the molar ratio of BrO and SO2 – which can be detected simultaneously via spectroscopic measurements using the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) method – is a proxy for the magmatic composition of a volcano and potentially an eruption forecast parameter. The detection of BrO in volcanic plumes from satellite spectroscopic observations is limited by the precision and sensitivity of the retrieval, which so far only allowed for the detection of BrO during major eruptions. The unprecedented spatial resolution of up to 3.5 km×5.5 km and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on board Sentinel-5 Precursor (S-5P) enable observing and monitoring volcanic bromine release globally even for minor eruptions or even quiescent degassing. In this study, we investigate how far the BrO retrieval can be improved using TROPOMI data and how well BrO can be detected, even in small eruptions and during quiescent volcanic degassing. There are two steps for which improvements in accuracy are investigated and applied: the improvement and quantitative determination of (1) the detection limit of the DOAS BrO column retrieval and (2) the correction of the non-volcanic background BrO signal. First, the DOAS retrieval settings are varied, and their influence on accuracy and precision is investigated with respect to the detection limit and potential systematic influences. Based on these results, we propose a dedicated DOAS evaluation scheme optimized for the detection of BrO in volcanic plumes. For the DOAS retrieval, we propose the use of a large fit window from 323–360 nm, yielding a statistical uncertainty lower by a factor of 1.8 compared to previous BrO DOAS algorithms while not enhancing systematic influences. Second, the effect of the background BrO is reduced by a latitude-dependent empirical correction scheme correlated to cloud information as well as information on the O3 column. Via these improvements, the combined statistical and systematic uncertainties in the resulting BrO vertical column density is on the order of 7×1012moleculescm-2. We present a new and accurate retrieval algorithm of BrO columns from TROPOMI observations which allows for the detection of even slightly enhanced BrO amounts inside minor eruptive plumes of bromine-rich volcanoes. While designed specifically for TROPOMI observations, the retrieval algorithm is in general also applicable to other hyperspectral satellite observations. However, some parts might require adaptation.

Rapid O3 assimilations – Part 1: Background and local contributions to tropospheric O3 changes in China in 2015–2020

Abstract. A single ozone (O3) tracer mode was developed in this work to build the capability of the Goddard Earth Observing System model with Chemistry (GEOS-Chem) for rapid O3 simulation. The single O3 tracer simulation demonstrates consistency with the GEOS-Chem full chemistry simulation, with dramatic reductions in computational costs of approximately 91 %–94 %. The single O3 tracer simulation was combined with surface and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) O3 observations to investigate the changes in tropospheric O3 over eastern China in 2015–2020. The assimilated O3 concentrations demonstrate good agreement with O3 observations because surface O3 concentrations are 43.2, 41.8, and 42.1 ppb and tropospheric O3 columns are 37.1, 37.9, and 38.0 DU in the simulations, assimilations, and observations, respectively. The assimilations indicate rapid rises in surface O3 concentrations by 1.60 (spring), 1.16 (summer), 1.47 (autumn), and 0.80 ppb yr−1 (winter) over eastern China in 2015–2020, and the increasing trends are underestimated by the a priori simulations. More attention is suggested to the rapid increases in the O3 pollution in spring and autumn. We find stronger rises in tropospheric O3 columns over highly polluted areas due to larger local contributions, for example, 0.12 DU yr−1 (North China Plain) in contrast to −0.29 (Sichuan Basin) and −0.25 DU yr−1 (southern China). Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated noticeable contributions of the interannual variability in background O3 to the trends in surface O3 (particularly in the summer) and tropospheric O3 columns over eastern China in 2015–2020. This work highlights the importance of rapid simulations and assimilations to extend and interpret atmospheric O3 observations.

Investigation of the summer 2018 European ozone air pollution episodes using novel satellite data and modelling

Abstract. In the summer of 2018, Europe experienced an intense heatwave which coincided with several persistent large-scale ozone (O3) pollution episodes. Novel satellite data of lower-tropospheric column O3 from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on the MetOp satellite showed substantial enhancements in 2018 relative to other years since 2012. Surface observations also showed ozone enhancements across large regions of continental Europe in summer 2018 compared to 2017. Enhancements to surface temperature and the O3 precursor gases carbon monoxide and methanol in 2018 were co-retrieved from MetOp observations by the same scheme. This analysis was supported by the TOMCAT chemistry transport model (CTM) to investigate processes driving the observed O3 enhancements. Through several targeted sensitivity experiments we show that meteorological processes, and emissions to a secondary order, were important for controlling the elevated O3 concentrations at the surface. However, mid-tropospheric (∼ 500 hPa) O3 enhancements were dominated by meteorological processes. We find that contributions from stratospheric O3 intrusions ranged between 15 %–40 %. Analysis of back trajectories indicates that the import of O3-enriched air masses into Europe originated over the North Atlantic, substantially increasing O3 in the 500 hPa layer during summer 2018.

Stratospheric dynamics modulates ozone layer response to molecular oxygen variations

Photolysis of molecular oxygen (O2) sustains the stratospheric ozone layer and is thereby protecting living organisms on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. In the past, atmospheric O2 levels were not constant, and their variations are thought to be responsible for the extinction of some species due to the thinning of the ozone layer. Over the Phanerozoic Eon (last ∼500 Mio years), the O2 volume mixing ratio ranged between 10% and 35% depending on the level of photosynthetic activity of plants and oceans. Previous estimates, mostly performed by simplified 1-D models, showed different ozone (O3) responses to atmospheric O2 changes within this range, such as monotonically positive or negative correlations, or displaying a maximum in the O3 column around a certain O2 level. Here, we assess the ozone layer sensitivity to atmospheric O2 varying between 5% and 40% with a state-of-the-art 3-D chemistry-climate model (CCM). Our findings show that the O3 layer thickness maximizes around the current mixing ratio of O2, 21% ± 5%, while lower or higher levels of O2 result globally in a reduction of total column O3. At low latitudes, the total column O3 is less sensitive to O2 variations, because of the “self-healing” effect, namely, a vertical dipole in the tropical ozone response. Mid- and high-latitude O3 columns that are largely affected by transport of O3 from the tropics, however, are much more sensitive to O2 with changes up to 20 DU even for small (±5%) O2 perturbations. We show that these variations are largely driven by the radiative impact of O3 on stratospheric temperatures and on the strength of the Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC), indicating chemistry-radiation-transport feedback. High O2 cases result in an acceleration of the BDC and vice versa, which always works in favor of the negative part of the O3 anomaly dipole in the tropics being more effectively transported to the mid- and high-latitudes than the positive one. Although there are other factors strongly influencing O3/O2 relationship on the Phanerozoic Eon timescales that have not been considered here, our results and the presented mechanism bring useful insights for other studies focusing on the long-term O3/O2 relationship.

Temporal and Spatial Distributions of O3 Concentration and Potential Source Area Analysis of Hexi Corridor Based on Satellite and Ground Monitoring

Based on 2005-2020 O3 column concentration data of OMI remote sensing satellite, combined with air pollutant data from 10 nationally controlled environmental automatic monitoring stations in the Hexi Corridor and global data assimilation system meteorological data, we used Kriging interpolation, correlation analysis, and backward trajectory (HYSPLIT) models to explore the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics, meteorological factors, transmission paths, and potential sources of O3 in the Hexi Corridor. The results showed the following:① in terms of temporal distribution, O3 column concentration showed an upward trend in 2005-2010 and 2014-2020 and downward trend in 2010-2014; the maximum and minimum values were reached in 2010 and 2014 (332.31 DU and 301.00 DU), respectively, and seasonal changes showed that those in spring and winter were significantly higher than those in summer and autumn. ② In terms of spatial distribution, O3 column concentration showed a latitudinal band distribution characteristic of increasing from southwest to northeast; the high-value areas were primarily distributed in urban areas with low terrain, and the median zone was latitudinally striped with the basic alignment of the Qilian foothills. ③ The analysis of meteorological conditions revealed that temperature, wind speed, and sunshine hours were positively correlated with O3, and relative humidity was negatively correlated with O3. ④ By simulating the airflow transportation trajectory of the receiving point in Wuwei City, it was found that the direction of the O3 conveying path was relatively singular; the dominant airflow in each season was primarily in the west and northwest; and the proportions were 71.62%, 66.85%, 61.22%, and 77.78%, respectively. There were certain seasonal differences in the source areas of O3 potential contribution:the high-value areas of O3 potential sources in spring, summer, and autumn were distributed in Baiyin City and Lanzhou City, which were southeast wind sources, and the high-value areas in winter were distributed between the Badain Jaran Desert and the Tengger Desert, which was the north wind source.

Rapid O3 assimilations – Part 2: Tropospheric O3 changes accompanied by declining NOx emissions in the USA and Europe in 2005–2020

Abstract. Tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations have declined dramatically over the United States (USA) and Europe in recent decades. Here we investigate the changes in surface and free-tropospheric O3 accompanied by NO2 changes over the USA and Europe in 2005–2020 by assimilating the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and U.S. Air Quality System (AQS) and European AirBase network O3 observations. The assimilated O3 concentrations demonstrate good agreement with O3 observations. Surface O3 concentrations are 41.4, 39.5, and 39.5 ppb (parts per billion; USA) and 35.3, 32.0, and 31.6 ppb (Europe) and tropospheric O3 columns are 35.5, 37.0, and 36.8 DU (USA) and 32.8, 35.3, and 36.4 DU (Europe) in the simulations, assimilations, and observations, respectively. We find overestimated summertime surface O3 concentrations over the USA and Europe, which resulted in a surface O3 maximum in July–August in the simulations, which is in contrast to April in the observations. Furthermore, our analysis exhibits limited changes in surface O3 concentrations; i.e., they decreased by −6 % over the USA and increased by 1.5 % over Europe in 2005–2020. The surface observation-based assimilations suggest insignificant changes in tropospheric O3 columns, namely −3.0 % (USA) and 1.5 % (Europe) in 2005–2020. While the OMI-based assimilations exhibit larger decreases in tropospheric O3 columns, with −12.0 % (USA) and −15.0 % (Europe) in 2005–2020, the decreases mainly occurred in 2010–2014, corresponding to the reported slower decline in free-tropospheric NO2 since 2010. Our analysis thus suggests that there are limited impacts of the decline in local emissions on tropospheric O3 over the USA and Europe and advises more efforts to evaluate the possible contributions of natural sources and transport. The discrepancy in assimilated tropospheric O3 columns further indicates the possible uncertainties in the derived tropospheric O3 changes.

Callisto's Atmosphere: The Oxygen Enigma

AbstractObservations of Callisto's atmosphere have indicated an O2 component should exist, but the evolution from its initial source to its inferred steady‐state abundance is not well understood. Herein we constrain the production of O2 via radiolysis within Callisto's exposed ice patches and determine the corresponding O2 column density. To do so, for the first time we simulate the thermal and energetic components of the Jovian magnetospheric plasma irradiating Callisto's atmosphere and estimate energy deposited therein by the impinging charged particles along their trajectories to the surface. We then calculate O2 source fluxes corresponding to the energy of the impacting plasma fluxes, which is coupled with estimated atmospheric lifetimes to determine the steady‐state abundance of O2. Our results suggest that production of O2 via radiolysis within the exposed ice on Callisto's surface does not produce a sufficiently dense atmosphere relative to the column densities inferred from observations by about 2–3 orders of magnitude. To resolve this discrepancy between estimated and observed abundances, we provide the first estimates for other potential sources of atmospheric O2. We also make similar estimates for the production of H2 in Callisto's atmosphere relative to constraints provided in the literature, and the conclusion is the same: a sufficiently dense atmosphere is not produced. Thus, we have shown that a better understanding of the production and fate of radiolytic products in Callisto's regolith is required in order to place firmer constraints on the generation mechanisms of its atmosphere in preparation for future observations.

Anomalies of O3, CO, C2H2, H2CO, and C2H6 detected with multiple ground-based Fourier-transform infrared spectrometers and assessed with model simulation in 2020: COVID-19 lockdowns versus natural variability

Anomalies of tropospheric columns of ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), acetylene (C2H2), formaldehyde (H2CO), and ethane (C2H6) are quantified during the 2020 stringent COVID-19 world-wide lockdown using multiple ground-based Fourier-transform infrared spectrometers covering urban and remote conditions. We applied an exponential smoothing forecasting approach to the data sets to estimate business-as-usual values for 2020, which are then contrasted with actual observations. The Community Atmosphere Model with chemistry (CAM-chem) is used to simulate the same gases using lockdown-adjusted and business-as-usual emissions. The role of meteorology, or natural variability, is assessed with additional CAM-chem simulations. The tropospheric column of O3 declined between March and May 2020 for most sites with a mean decrease of 9.2% ± 4.7%. Simulations reproduce these anomalies, especially under background conditions where natural variability explains up to 80% of the decline for sites in the Northern Hemisphere. While urban sites show a reduction between 1% and 12% in tropospheric CO, the remote sites do not show a significant change. Overall, CAM-chem simulations capture the magnitude of the anomalies and in many cases natural variability and lockdowns have opposite effects. We further used the long-term record of the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) satellite instrument to capture global anomalies of CO. Reductions of CO vary highly across regions but North America and Europe registered lower values in March 2020. The absence of CO reduction in April and May, concomitant with reductions of anthropogenic emissions, is explained by a negative anomaly in the hydroxyl radical (OH) found with CAM-chem. The implications of these findings are discussed for methane (CH4), which shows a positive lifetime anomaly during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The fossil fuel combustion by-product tracer C2H2 shows a mean drop of 13.6% ± 8.3% in urban Northern Hemisphere sites due to the reduction in emissions and in some sites exacerbated by natural variability. For some sites with anthropogenic influence there is a decrease in C2H6. The simulations capture the anomalies but the main cause may be related to natural variability. H2CO declined during the stringent 2020 lockdown in all urban sites explained by reductions in emissions of precursors.

Spatiotemporal characteristics of ozone and the formation sensitivity over the Fenwei Plain

High surface ozone (O3) levels affect human and environmental health. The Fenwei Plain (FWP), one of the critical regions for China's “Blue Sky Protection Campaign”, has reported severe O3 pollution. This study investigates the spatiotemporal properties and the causes of O3 pollution over the FWP using high-resolution data from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) from 2019 to 2021. This study characterizes spatial and temporal variations in O3 concentration by linking O3 columns and surface monitoring using a trained deep forest machine learning model. O3 concentrations in summer were 2–3 times higher than those found in winter due to higher temperatures and greater solar irradiation. The spatial distributions of O3 correlate with the solar radiation showing decreased trends from the northeastern to the southwestern FWP, with the highest O3 values in Shanxi Province and the lowest in Shaanxi Province. For urban areas, croplands and grasslands, the O3 photochemistry in summer is NOx-limited or in the transitional regime, while it is VOC-limited in winter and other seasons. Reducing NOx emissions would be effective for decreasing O3 levels in summer, while VOC reductions are necessary for winter. The annual cycle in vegetated areas included both NOx-limited and transitional regimes, indicating the importance of NOx controls to protect ecosystems. The O3 response to limiting precursors shown here is of importance for optimizing control strategies and is illustrated by emission changes during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.

Algorithm theoretical basis for ozone and sulfur dioxide retrievals from DSCOVR EPIC

Abstract. On board the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), the first Earth-observing satellite at the L1 point (the first Lagrangian point in the Earth–Sun system), the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) continuously observes the entire sunlit face of the Earth. EPIC measures the solar backscattered and reflected radiances in 10 discrete spectral channels, four of which are in the ultraviolet (UV) range. These UV bands are selected primarily for total ozone (O3) and aerosol retrievals based on heritage algorithms developed for the series of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometers (TOMS). These UV measurements also provide sensitive detection of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and volcanic ash, both of which may be episodically injected into the atmosphere during explosive volcanic eruptions. This paper presents the theoretical basis and mathematical procedures for the direct vertical column fitting (DVCF) algorithm used for retrieving total vertical columns of O3 and SO2 from DSCOVR EPIC. This paper describes algorithm advances, including an improved O3 profile representation that enables profile adjustments from multiple spectral measurements and the spatial optimal estimation (SOE) scheme that reduces O3 artifacts resulting from EPIC's band-to-band misregistrations. Furthermore, this paper discusses detailed error analyses and presents intercomparisons with correlative data to validate O3 and SO2 retrievals from EPIC.

Estimation of surface ozone concentration over Jiangsu province using a high-performance deep learning model

Recently, the global background concentration of ozone (O3) has demonstrated a rising trend. Among various methods, groun-based monitoring of O3 concentrations is highly reliable for research analysis. To obtain information on the spatial characteristics of O3 concentrations, it is necessary that the ground monitoring sites be constructed in sufficient density. In recent years, many researchers have used machine learning models to estimate surface O3 concentrations, which cannot fully provide the spatial and temporal information contained in a sample dataset. To solve this problem, the current study utilized a deep learning model called the Residual connection Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory network (R-ConvLSTM) to estimate daily maximum 8-hr average (MDA8) O3 over Jiangsu province, China during 2020. In this research, the R-ConvLSTM model not only provides the spatiotemporal information of MDA8 O3, but also involves residual connection to avoid the problem of gradient explosion and gradient disappearance with the deepening of network layers. We utilized the TROPOMI total O3 column retrieved from Sentinel-5 Precursor, ERA5 reanalysis meteorological data, and other supplementary data to build a pre-trained dataset. The R-ConvLSTM model achieved an overall sample-base cross-validation (CV) R2 of 0.955 with root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.372 µg/m3. Model estimation also showed a city-based CV R2 of 0.896 with RMSE of 14.029 µg/m3, the highest MDA8 O3 in spring being 122.60 ± 31.60 µg/m3 and the lowest in winter being 69.93 ± 18.48 µg/m3.

A new machine-learning-based analysis for improving satellite-retrieved atmospheric composition data: OMI SO2 as an example

Abstract. Despite recent progress, satellite retrievals of anthropogenic SO2 still suffer from relatively low signal-to-noise ratios. In this study, we demonstrate a new machine learning data analysis method to improve the quality of satellite SO2 products. In the absence of large ground-truth datasets for SO2, we start from SO2 slant column densities (SCDs) retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) using a data-driven, physically based algorithm and calculate the ratio between the SCD and the root mean square (rms) of the fitting residuals for each pixel. To build the training data, we select presumably clean pixels with small SCD / rms ratios (SRRs) and set their target SCDs to zero. For polluted pixels with relatively large SRRs, we set the target to the original retrieved SCDs. We then train neural networks (NNs) to reproduce the target SCDs using predictors including SRRs for individual pixels, solar zenith, viewing zenith and phase angles, scene reflectivity, and O3 column amounts, as well as the monthly mean SRRs. For data analysis, we employ two NNs: (1) one trained daily to produce analyzed SO2 SCDs for polluted pixels each day and (2) the other trained once every month to produce analyzed SCDs for less polluted pixels for the entire month. Test results for 2005 show that our method can significantly reduce noise and artifacts over background regions. Over polluted areas, the monthly mean NN-analyzed and original SCDs generally agree to within ±15 %, indicating that our method can retain SO2 signals in the original retrievals except for large volcanic eruptions. This is further confirmed by running both the NN-analyzed and original SCDs through a top-down emission algorithm to estimate the annual SO2 emissions for ∼500 anthropogenic sources, with the two datasets yielding similar results. We also explore two alternative approaches to the NN-based analysis method. In one, we employ a simple linear interpolation model to analyze the original SCD retrievals. In the other, we develop a PCA–NN algorithm that uses OMI measured radiances, transformed and dimension-reduced with a principal component analysis (PCA) technique, as inputs to NNs for SO2 SCD retrievals. While the linear model and the PCA–NN algorithm can reduce retrieval noise, they both underestimate SO2 over polluted areas. Overall, the results presented here demonstrate that our new data analysis method can significantly improve the quality of existing OMI SO2 retrievals. The method can potentially be adapted for other sensors and/or species and enhance the value of satellite data in air quality research and applications.

Multi-Fluid MHD Simulations of Europa's Plasma Interaction: Effects of Variation in Europa's Atmosphere.

Europa's plasma interaction is inextricably coupled to its O2 atmosphere by the chemical processes that generate plasma from the atmosphere and the sputtering of magnetospheric plasma against Europa's ice to generate O2. Observations of Europa's atmosphere admit a range of possible densities and spatial distributions (Hall et al., 1998, https://doi.org/10.1086/305604). To better understand this system, we must characterize how different possible configurations of the atmosphere affect the 3D magnetic fields and bulk plasma properties near Europa. To accomplish this, we conducted a parameter study using a multi‐fluid magnetohydrodynamic model for Europa's plasma interaction (Harris et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja028888). We varied parameters of Europa's atmosphere, as well as the conditions of Jupiter's magnetosphere, over 18 simulations. As the scale height and density of Europa's atmosphere increase, the extent and density of the ionosphere increase as well, generating strong magnetic fields that shield Europa's surface from impinging plasma on the trailing hemisphere. We also calculate the precipitation rate of magnetospheric plasma onto Europa's surface. As the O2 column density increased from (1–2.5) × 1014 cm−2, the precipitation rate decreased sharply then leveled off at 2 × 1024 ions/s for simulations with low magnetospheric plasma density and 6.4 × 1024 ions/s for simulations with high magnetospheric plasma density. These results indicate that the coupling between Europa's plasma populations and its atmosphere leads to feedback that limits increases in the ionosphere density.