Ozone Variability and Anomalies Observed During SENEX and SEAC4RS Campaigns in 2013. Issue 20 (30th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuang, Shi; Newchurch, Michael J.; Thompson, Anne M.; Stauffer, Ryan M.; Johnson, Bryan J.; Wang, Lihua
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 122:Issue 20(2017)
• Page Start: 11, 227
• Page End: 11, 241
• Publication Date: 2017-10-30
• Subjects: ozone -- ozonesonde -- SEAC4RS -- SENEX -- STT -- tropospheric chemistry; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JD027139
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-897X

Abstract

Abstract: Tropospheric ozone variability occurs because of multiple forcing factors including surface emission of ozone precursors, stratosphere‐to‐troposphere transport (STT), and meteorological conditions. Analyses of ozonesonde observations made in Huntsville, AL, during the peak ozone season (May to September) in 2013 indicate that ozone in the planetary boundary layer was significantly lower than the climatological average, especially in July and August when the Southeastern United States (SEUS) experienced unusually cool and wet weather. Because of a large influence of the lower stratosphere, however, upper tropospheric ozone was mostly higher than climatology, especially from May to July. Tropospheric ozone anomalies were strongly anticorrelated (or correlated) with water vapor (or temperature) anomalies with a correlation coefficient mostly about 0.6 throughout the entire troposphere. The regression slopes between ozone and temperature anomalies for surface up to midtroposphere are within 3.0–4.1 ppbv K −1 . The occurrence rates of tropospheric ozone laminae due to STT are ≥50% in May and June and about 30% in July, August, and September suggesting that the stratospheric influence on free‐tropospheric ozone could be significant during early summer. These STT laminae have a mean maximum ozone enhancement over the climatology of 52 ± 33% (35 ± 24 ppbv) with a mean minimum relative humidity of 2.3 ± 1.7%. Key Points: Tropospheric ozone anomalies are anticorrelated (or correlated) with water vapor (or temperature) with a correlation coefficient about 0.6 The regression slopes between ozone and temperature anomalies for surface, PBL, and midtroposphere are within 3.0–4.1 ppbv/K The stratospheric influence on free‐tropospheric ozone could be significant during early summer