Pollutant Concentration Profiles Research Articles

Concentration profiles for hydrogen fluoride(HF), sulfur dioxide(SO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), and nitric oxide(NO) generated in a standardized alfalfa canopy are presented. Wind, light, temperature, and carbon dioxide(CO2) profiles, canopy pollutant uptake rates, and canopy structural data are also given. Canopy pollutant concentration profile characteristics were studied to evaluate the relative potentials for major air pollutants to penetrate into canopies. The study was conducted in an environmental growth chamber equipped to control automatically environmental conditions and monitor continuously gas exchange rates. HF, SO2, and NO2 profiles suggested that these gases were removed efficiently by the upper portion of the canopy as well as by the immediate subsurface vegetation. The steady state HF profile showed the greatest displacement within the canopy. The NO profile was displaced the least. The uptake rate of NO by plants was apparently too slow in comparison with gas transport and mixi...