Journal article
Sensitivity of Ozone Production to NOx and VOC Along the Lake Michigan Coastline
Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.124(20), pp.10989-11006
10/27/2019
DOI: 10.1029/2019JD030842
Abstract
We report on the sensitivity of enhanced ozone (O3) production, observed during lake breeze circulation along the coastline of Lake Michigan, to the concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We assess the sensitivity of O3 production to NOx and VOC on a high O3 day during the Lake Michigan Ozone Study 2017 using an observationally constrained chemical box model that implements the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM v3.3.1) and recent emission inventories for NOx and VOCs. The Master Chemical Mechanism model is coupled to a backward air mass trajectory analysis from a ground supersite in Zion, IL, where an extensive series of measurements of O3 precursors and their oxidation products, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric acid (HNO3), and particulate nitrates (NO3−) serve as model constraints. We evaluate the chemical evolution of the Chicago‐Gary urban plume as it advects over Lake Michigan and demonstrate how modeled indicators of VOC‐ versus NOx‐sensitive regimes can be constrained by measurements at the trajectory endpoint. Using the modeled ratio of the instantaneous H2O2 and HNO3 production rates (PH2O2/PHNO3), we suggest that O3 production over the urban source region is strongly VOC sensitive and progresses towards a more NOx‐sensitive regime as the plume advects north along the Lake Michigan coastline on this day. We also demonstrate that ground‐based measurements of the mean concentration ratio of H2O2 to HNO3 describe the sensitivity of O3 production to VOC and NOx as the integral of chemical production along the plume path.
Key Points
Direct observations of H2O2/HNO3 at an urban plume endpoint can be used to assess the integrated O3 sensitivity to NOx and VOC emissions
Indicators of O3 sensitivity show that the urban plume traveling over Lake Michigan evolves from VOC towards NOx‐sensitive O3 production
O3, H2O2, HNO3, and NO3− provide unique constraints to predict the response of O3 to changes in VOC and NOx emissions in coastal regions
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Sensitivity of Ozone Production to NOx and VOC Along the Lake Michigan Coastline
- Creators
- Michael P Vermeuel - University of Wisconsin–MadisonGordon A Novak - University of Wisconsin–MadisonHariprasad D Alwe - University of MinnesotaDagen D Hughes - University of IowaRob Kaleel - AIRAngela F Dickens - Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesDonna Kenski - AIRAlan C Czarnetzki - University of Northern IowaElizabeth A Stone - University of IowaCharles O Stanier - University of IowaR. Bradley Pierce - University of Wisconsin–MadisonDylan B Millet - University of MinnesotaTimothy H Bertram - University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.124(20), pp.10989-11006
- DOI
- 10.1029/2019JD030842
- ISSN
- 2169-897X
- eISSN
- 2169-8996
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- National Science Foundation (AGS‐1712909; AGS‐1712828; AGS‐1713001)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/27/2019
- Academic Unit
- Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984197221402771
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