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An Evaluation of the Influence of the Morning Residual Layer on Afternoon Ozone Concentrations in Houston Using Ozonesonde Data. Introduction. The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area (HGBR) is noted for its violations of EPA NAAQS
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An Evaluation of the Influence of the Morning Residual Layer on Afternoon Ozone Concentrations in Houston Using Ozonesonde Data
Introduction • The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area (HGBR) is noted for its violations of EPA NAAQS • > 220 Ozonesondes were launched during Houston, TX as part of TexAQS II and IONS-06 • Where do polluted airmasses come from • What effect do local meteorological conditions have on air quality • Where will polluted air travel after leaving HGBR
Boundary Layer Evolution • Convective (daytime) and stable (nighttime)
Boundary Layer Characteristics • The Nocturnal Boundary Layer: • Stable (upward heat flux) • Shallow (100s of meters) • Residual layer (RL) above NBL • RL height – Identified by capping inversion and RH decrease. • RL often retains characteristics of previous day’s mixing layer
Boundary Layer Characteristics • Convective Boundary Layer • Unstable • Typically 1000s of meters • Has a large “mixed layer” • Mixed layer height - 4 ways to find it
Boundary Layer Pollution Effects • RL can act as trace gas “reservoir” • “reservoir” effect depends on (shear) turbulence eddies can cause mixing. • Land and sea breeze
Case Study 1 • 4-5 Aug. 2004
Case Study 1 • HYSPLIT results • 1.25 km air remained in study area over 4-5 aug • Some questions
Case Study 2 • 1-2 Sept 2006 • Occurs after a cold front • Background Effect
Case Study 2 • Land/Sea breeze
Case Study 3 • 5 Oct 2006 • 8 hr mean (oct 4) 52.6 ppbv • 1.4-1.8 km interaction With LFT.
Case Study 4 • 10-11 Aug 2007 • Light winds • Why no intensification • Imported O3 and LFT interactions
Mean Profiles • Calculating mean O3 production • PM profile enhancements = LFT interaction
Residual Layer • Fairly High Correlation • Slightly less max AM O3 than the day before • Removal of several outliers due to changing synoptic conditions leads to higher correlation
Residual Layer and Afternoon O3 concentration • Compare RL ozone to afternoon ozone • Compare Previous day 8 hr average to afternoon ozone