EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Li et al. 2005
Li, Q., Jacob, D.J., Park, R., Wang, Y., Heald, C.L., Hudman, R., Yantosca, R.M., Martin, R.V. and Evans, M. (2005). North American pollution outflow and the trapping of convectively lifted pollution by upper-level anticyclone. Journal of Geophysical Research 110: doi: 10.1029/2004JD005039. issn: 0148-0227.

We examine the major outflow pathways for North American pollution to the Atlantic in summer by conducting a 4-year simulation with the GEOS-CHEM global chemical transport model, including a coupled ozone-aerosol simulation with 1¿ ¿ 1¿ horizontal resolution for summer 2000. The outflow is driven principally by cyclones tracking eastward across North America at 45--55¿N, every 5 days on average. Anthropogenic and fire effluents from western North America are mostly transported north and east, eventually merging with the eastern U.S. pollution outflow to the Atlantic. A semipermanent upper-level anticyclone traps the convective outflow and allows it to age in the upper troposphere over the United States for several days. Rapid ozone production takes place in this outflow, driven in part by anthropogenic and lightning NOx and in part by HOx radicals produced from convectively lifted CH2O that originates from biogenic isoprene. This mechanism could explain ozonesonde observations of elevated ozone in the upper troposphere over the southeastern United States. Asian and European pollution influences in the North American outflow to the Atlantic are found to be dispersed into the background and do not generate distinct plumes. Satellite observations of CO columns from MOPITT and of aerosol optical depths (AODs) from MODIS provide useful mapping of outflow events, despite their restriction to clear-sky scenes.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Troposphere, composition and chemistry, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Troposphere, constituent transport and chemistry, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Pollution, urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251), Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Constituent sources and sinks, continental outflow, transport pathways, ozone maximum, deep convection, anticyclone
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit