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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 29, 1467, 4 PP., 2002
doi:10.1029/2001GL014569

Ozone production rate and hydrocarbon reactivity in 5 urban areas: A cause of high ozone concentration in Houston

L. I. Kleinman

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

P. H. Daum

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

D. Imre

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

Y.-N. Lee

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

L. J. Nunnermacker

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

S. R. Springston

Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

J. Weinstein-Lloyd

Chemistry/Physics Department, SUNY/Old Westbury, Old Westbury, New York, USA

J. Rudolph

Chemistry Department and Centre for Atmospheric Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Observations of ozone (O3) and O3 precursors taken from aircraft flights over Houston, TX, Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Phoenix, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA show that high concentrations of reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the Houston atmosphere lead to calculated O3 production rates that are 2 to 5 times higher than in the other 4 cities even though NOx concentrations are comparable. Within the Houston metropolitan area, concentrations of VOCs and O3 production rates are highest in the Ship Channel region; the location of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world. As a consequence the concentration of O3 in the Houston metropolitan area has recently exceeded 250 ppb, the highest value observed in the U.S within the past 5 years.

Published 28 May 2002.

Citation: Kleinman, L. I., P. H. Daum, D. Imre, Y.-N. Lee, L. J. Nunnermacker, S. R. Springston, J. Weinstein-Lloyd, and J. Rudolph (2002), Ozone production rate and hydrocarbon reactivity in 5 urban areas: A cause of high ozone concentration in Houston, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(10), 1467, doi:10.1029/2001GL014569.

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