HR: 0800h
AN: A51D-0103    [Abstracts]
TI: An analysis of atmospheric transport patterns during high ozone events in Western Pennsylvania
AU: * Fujii, D C
EM: dcf0914@sru.edu
AF: Slippery Rock University, 225A Vincent Science Hall , Slippery Rock, PA 16057 United States
AU: Snow, J A
EM: julie.snow@sru.edu
AF: Slippery Rock University, 225A Vincent Science Hall , Slippery Rock, PA 16057 United States
AU: Livingston, J
EM: jack.livingston@sru.edu
AF: Slippery Rock University, 107C Spotts World Culture Building, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 United States
AB: A significant contributor to poor air quality in the United States is tropospheric ozone (O₃). Tropospheric O₃ is a result of photochemical production from anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) emitted primarily from motor vehicle engines and power plants. Less is known about the interaction between the distribution of these sources, atmospheric pathways, and local variability in O₃ downwind. From June to August 2005, O₃ measurements were recorded every hour on the roof of Slippery Rock University's (SRU) Vincent Science Hall, 51 miles north of Pittsburgh. Measurements were made using a Thermo Electron Corporation O₃ analyzer. During this time, 17 days occurred with an hourly O₃ average exceeding 80 ppbv, the eight-hour average National Ambient Air Quality O₃ standard. Atmospheric back trajectories were calculated every 12 hours throughout these months to investigate the spatial distribution of transport pathways to SRU. The NOAA Hysplit trajectory model was used to generate the back trajectory coordinates. The back trajectory coordinate data was examined using GIS to determine if there was a statistically significant association between specific transport pathway clusters and high O₃ days. The results of this study was also used to predict potential NOx and VOC point source risk for SRU.
DE: 0345 Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251)
DE: 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005