Long-term variability of trace gases over the Indian Western Himalayan Region

The four-year continuous measurements of CO, NOx, NH₃, SO_2, and O₃ were carried at a high altitude site (32.12°N, 76.56°E at 1347 m AMSL) of the Indian Western Himalayan area to study the mixing ratios of these gases for understanding the changing trends of these trace gases over the region. Each of these trace gases showed significant daily and monthly variabilities. The highest variability was recorded in the monthly mean values of O₃ as it varied from 10 to 63 ppb during the study period. All the trace gases except CO showed maximum variability in the pre-monsoon seasons due to the strong advection and vertical circulation of air masses at the site. The seasonal mean maxima of CO were recorded during the monsoon season, while the mean maxima of NH₃ were recorded during the post-monsoon seasons. The meteorological parameters have been found to influence the mixing ratios of trace gases. The least variability in the mean seasonal mixing ratios of SO₂ during the study period indicated the constant point source of SO₂ near the site. The trajectories analysis revealed that the area receives maximum air masses from the southeast to the west directions where a number of the coal-based thermal power plants, industries, cement plants, and agricultural fields are also located. The influence of valley-to-mountain circulations was also observed at the site, resulting in the transport of pollutant-rich air masses from local and distant sources to the site. A comparison of the mixing ratios of different trace gases obtained in the present study is also made with the values reported for other high altitude stations in the world.

Characteristics of surface O₃ over Qinghai Lake area in Northeast Tibetan Plateau, China

Surface O3 was monitored continuously during Aug. 12, 2010 to Jul. 21, 2011 at a high elevation site (3,200 m above sea level) in Qinghai Lake area (36°58'37″N, 99°53'56″E) in Northeast Tibetan Plateau, China. Daily average O3 ranged from 21.8 ppbv to 65.3 ppbv with an annual average of 41.0 ppbv. Seasonal average of O3 followed a decreasing order of summer>autumn>spring>winter. Diurnal variations of O3 showed low concentrations during daytime and high concentrations during late night and early morning. An intensive campaign was also conducted during Aug. 13-31, 2010 to investigate correlations between meteorological or chemical conditions and O3. It was found that O3 was poorly correlated with solar radiation due to the insufficient NOx in the ambient air, thus limiting O3 formation under strong solar radiation. In contrast, high O3 levels always coincided with strong winds, suggesting that stratospheric O3 and long range transport might be the main sources of O3 in this rural area. Back-trajectory analysis supported this hypothesis and further indicated the transport of air masses from northwest, northeast and southeast directions.

Assessment of the photochemistry of OH and NO3 on Jeju Island during the Asian-dust-storm period in the spring of 2001

In this study, we examined the influence of the long-range transport of dust particles and air pollutants on the photochemistry of OH and NO3 on Jeju Island, Korea (33.17 degrees N, 126.10 degrees E) during the Asian-dust-storm (ADS) period of April 2001. Three ADS events were observed during the periods of April 10-12, 13-14, and 25-26. Average concentration levels of daytime OH and nighttime NO3 on Jeju Island during the ADS period were estimated to be about 1x10(6) and 2x10(8) moleculescm(-3) ( approximately 9 pptv), respectively. OH levels during the ADS period were lower than those during the non-Asian-dust-storm (NADS) period by a factor of 1.5. This was likely to result from higher CO levels and the significant loading of dust particles, reducing the photolysis frequencies of ozone. Decreases in NO3 levels during the ADS period was likely to be determined mainly by the enhancement of the N2O5 heterogeneous reaction on dust aerosol surfaces. Averaged over 24 h, the reaction between HO2 and NO was the most important source of OH during the study period, followed by ozone photolysis, which contributed more than 95% of the total source. The reactions with CO, NO2, and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) during the study period were major sinks for OH. The reaction of N2O5 on aerosol surfaces was a more important sink for nighttime NO3 during the ADS due to the significant loading of dust particles. The reaction of NO3 with NMHCs and the gas-phase reaction of N2O5 with water vapor were both significant loss mechanisms during the study period, especially during the NADS. However, dry deposition of these oxidized nitrogen species and a heterogeneous reaction of NO3 were of no importance.