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Dressel I, Demetillo MA, Judd LM, Janz SJ, Fields KP, Sun K, Fiore AM, McDonald BC, Pusede SE. Daily Satellite Observations of Nitrogen Dioxide Air Pollution Inequality in New York City, New York and Newark, New Jersey: Evaluation and Application. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15298-15311. [PMID: 36224708 PMCID: PMC9670852 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban air pollution disproportionately harms communities of color and low-income communities in the U.S. Intraurban nitrogen dioxide (NO2) inequalities can be observed from space using the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). Past research has relied on time-averaged measurements, limiting our understanding of how neighborhood-level NO2 inequalities co-vary with urban air quality and climate. Here, we use fine-scale (250 m × 250 m) airborne NO2 remote sensing to demonstrate that daily TROPOMI observations resolve a major portion of census tract-scale NO2 inequalities in the New York City-Newark urbanized area. Spatiotemporally coincident TROPOMI and airborne inequalities are well correlated (r = 0.82-0.97), with slopes of 0.82-1.05 for relative and 0.76-0.96 for absolute inequalities for different groups. We calculate daily TROPOMI NO2 inequalities over May 2018-September 2021, reporting disparities of 25-38% with race, ethnicity, and/or household income. Mean daily inequalities agree with results based on TROPOMI measurements oversampled to 0.01° × 0.01° to within associated uncertainties. Individual and mean daily TROPOMI NO2 inequalities are largely insensitive to pixel size, at least when pixels are smaller than ∼60 km2, but are sensitive to low observational coverage. We statistically analyze daily NO2 inequalities, presenting empirical evidence of the systematic overburdening of communities of color and low-income neighborhoods with polluting sources, regulatory ozone co-benefits, and worsened NO2 inequalities and cumulative NO2 and urban heat burdens with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella
M. Dressel
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Mary Angelique
G. Demetillo
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Laura M. Judd
- NASA
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23681, United States
| | - Scott J. Janz
- NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Kimberly P. Fields
- Carter
G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Kang Sun
- Department
of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
- Research
and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water (RENEW) Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Arlene M. Fiore
- Department
of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Brian C. McDonald
- Chemical
Sciences Laboratory, NOAA Earth System Research
Laboratories, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United
States
| | - Sally E. Pusede
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
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Knowland KE, Doherty RM, Hodges KI, Ott LE. The influence of mid-latitude cyclones on European background surface ozone. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS 2017; 17:12421-12447. [PMID: 32714379 PMCID: PMC7380074 DOI: 10.5194/acp-17-12421-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between springtime mid-latitude cyclones and background ozone (O3) is explored using a combination of observational and reanalysis data sets. First, the relationship between surface O3 observations at two rural monitoring sites on the west coast of Europe - Mace Head, Ireland and Monte Velho, Portugal - and cyclone track frequency in the surrounding regions is examined. Second, detailed case study examination of four individual mid-latitude cyclones and the influence of the associated frontal passage on surface O3 is performed. Cyclone tracks have a greater influence on the O3 measurements at the more northern coastal European station, Mace Head, located within the main North Atlantic (NA) storm track. In particular, when cyclones track north of 53° N, there is a significant relationship with high levels of surface O3 (> 75th percentile). The further away a cyclone is from the NA storm track, the more likely it will be associated with both high and low (< 25th percentile) levels of O3 at the observation site during the cyclone's life cycle. The results of the four case studies demonstrate a) the importance of the passage of a cyclone's cold front in relation to surface O3 measurements, b) the ability of mid-latitude cyclones to bring down high levels of O3 from the stratosphere and c) that accompanying surface high pressure systems and their associated transport pathways play an important role in the temporal variability of surface O3. The main source of high O3 to these two sites in springtime is from the stratosphere, either from direct injection into the cyclone or associated with aged airstreams from decaying downstream cyclones that can become entrained and descend toward the surface within new cyclones over the NA region.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Emma Knowland
- Universities Space Research Association (USRA)/Goddard Earth Science Technology & Research (GESTAR)
- Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruth M. Doherty
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Lesley E. Ott
- Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
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Hidy GM, Mueller PK, Altshuler SL, Chow JC, Watson JG. Air quality measurements-From rubber bands to tapping the rainbow. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2017; 67:637-668. [PMID: 28333580 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2017.1308890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED It is axiomatic that good measurements are integral to good public policy for environmental protection. The generalized term for "measurements" includes sampling and quantitation, data integrity, documentation, network design, sponsorship, operations, archiving, and accessing for applications. Each of these components has evolved and advanced over the last 200 years as knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and physics has matured. Air quality was first detected by what people could see and smell in contaminated air. Gaseous pollutants were found to react with certain materials or chemicals, changing the color of dissolved reagents such that their light absorption at selected wavelengths could be related to both the pollutant chemistry and its concentration. Airborne particles have challenged the development of a variety of sensory devices and laboratory assays for characterization of their enormous range of physical and chemical properties. Advanced electronics made possible the sampling, concentration, and detection of gases and particles, both in situ and in laboratory analysis of collected samples. Accurate and precise measurements by these methods have made possible advanced air quality management practices that led to decreasing concentrations over time. New technologies are leading to smaller and cheaper measurement systems that can further expand and enhance current air pollution monitoring networks. IMPLICATIONS Ambient air quality measurement systems have a large influence on air quality management by determining compliance, tracking trends, elucidating pollutant transport and transformation, and relating concentrations to adverse effects. These systems consist of more than just instrumentation, and involve extensive support efforts for siting, maintenance, calibration, auditing, data validation, data management and access, and data interpretation. These requirements have largely been attained for criteria pollutants regulated by National Ambient Air Quality Standards, but they are rarely attained for nonroutine measurements and research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Judith C Chow
- d Desert Research Institute , Reno , Nevada , USA
- e State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
| | - John G Watson
- d Desert Research Institute , Reno , Nevada , USA
- e State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG) , Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
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Active and widespread halogen chemistry in the tropical and subtropical free troposphere. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:9281-6. [PMID: 26124148 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1505142112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Halogens in the troposphere are increasingly recognized as playing an important role for atmospheric chemistry, and possibly climate. Bromine and iodine react catalytically to destroy ozone (O3), oxidize mercury, and modify oxidative capacity that is relevant for the lifetime of greenhouse gases. Most of the tropospheric O3 and methane (CH4) loss occurs at tropical latitudes. Here we report simultaneous measurements of vertical profiles of bromine oxide (BrO) and iodine oxide (IO) in the tropical and subtropical free troposphere (10 °N to 40 °S), and show that these halogens are responsible for 34% of the column-integrated loss of tropospheric O3. The observed BrO concentrations increase strongly with altitude (∼ 3.4 pptv at 13.5 km), and are 2-4 times higher than predicted in the tropical free troposphere. BrO resembles model predictions more closely in stratospheric air. The largest model low bias is observed in the lower tropical transition layer (TTL) over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, and may reflect a missing inorganic bromine source supplying an additional 2.5-6.4 pptv total inorganic bromine (Bry), or model overestimated Bry wet scavenging. Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneous chemistry on ice clouds, and imply an additional Bry source from the debromination of sea salt residue in the lower TTL. The observed levels of bromine oxidize mercury up to 3.5 times faster than models predict, possibly increasing mercury deposition to the ocean. The halogen-catalyzed loss of tropospheric O3 needs to be considered when estimating past and future ozone radiative effects.
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Chen WT, Nenes A, Liao H, Adams PJ, Li JLF, Seinfeld JH. Global climate response to anthropogenic aerosol indirect effects: Present day and year 2100. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd011619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Liao H, Zhang Y, Chen WT, Raes F, Seinfeld JH. Effect of chemistry-aerosol-climate coupling on predictions of future climate and future levels of tropospheric ozone and aerosols. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd010984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Nolte CG, Gilliland AB, Hogrefe C, Mickley LJ. Linking global to regional models to assess future climate impacts on surface ozone levels in the United States. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jd008497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Chen WT, Liao H, Seinfeld JH. Future climate impacts of direct radiative forcing of anthropogenic aerosols, tropospheric ozone, and long-lived greenhouse gases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jd008051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Sudo K, Akimoto H. Global source attribution of tropospheric ozone: Long-range transport from various source regions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jd007992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Liao H, Chen WT, Seinfeld JH. Role of climate change in global predictions of future tropospheric ozone and aerosols. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005jd006852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Farrell AE. Learning to see the invisible: discovery and measurement of ozone. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2005; 106:59-80. [PMID: 16001712 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-005-0762-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ozone is a key trace constituent of the atmosphere that is interesting for multiple reasons, including its ability to serve both as a screen against harmful solar radiation and as an aggressor against human health. However, methods for accurately detecting and measuring ozone were required before the behavior of ozone in the atmosphere and the effect of human activity on that behavior could be understood. This paper traces out the history of technologies and practices in ozone monitoring that have made this understanding possible, from nineteenth century chemical indicators to modern, laser-based detection technologies. Key insights include the importance of interactions between theorizing and observation in the process of scientific discovery, the importance of intercomparisons between different types of instruments, the way in which public policy concerns changed the pace and direction of ozone monitoring in the 1970s, and the importance of long-term environmental monitoring data to both improving our understanding of earth systems and protecting human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E Farrell
- Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, 310 Barrows Hall, Berkeley, California, USA.
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Chung SH. Climate response of direct radiative forcing of anthropogenic black carbon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1029/2004jd005441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Liao H. Global impacts of gas-phase chemistry-aerosol interactions on direct radiative forcing by anthropogenic aerosols and ozone. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1029/2005jd005907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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