NOAA GFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics LaboratoryGFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Transport of Asian ozone pollution into surface air over the western United States in spring

February 24th, 2012

Key Findings

  • Asian fossil fuel emissions can contribute as much as 20 percent of total ozone during springtime pollution episodes in western U.S. surface air.
  • Near real-time satellite observations of Asian pollution plumes could serve as an early-warning indicator, with a lead time of 1 to 3 days, of Asian pollution influence on western US air quality.
  • A new high-resolution (~50×50 km2) version of GFDL’s AM3 global chemistry-climate model captures dynamic variability of ozone in upper air and surface measurements, a major improvement upon previous models

Meiyun Lin, A. M. Fiore, L. W. Horowitz, O. R. Cooper, V. Naik, J. Holloway, B. J. Johnson, A. M. Middlebrook, S. J. Oltmans, I. B. Pollack, T. B. Ryerson, J. X. Warner, C. Wiedinmyer, J. Wilson, B. Wyman. Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, D00V07, doi:10.1029/2011JD016961

Summary

As Asian countries develop, they are emitting more ozone precursors that pollute surface level air. Many studies have documented this pollution being carried by air currents to the western United States. To determine the extent to which this pollution is affecting air quality in the western U.S., we analyzed balloon soundings, aircraft, surface and satellite measurements from May through June 2010 using a new global high-resolution chemistry-climate model. Our findings indicate that Asian pollution contributes as much as 20 percent of total ozone during springtime pollution episodes in western U.S. surface air.

Current guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency dictate that surface level air should have no more than 75 parts per billion (8 hour average) by volume of ozone. Although local pollution plays a large role on days when that standard is not met in Southern California, we estimate that 53% of the instances where that limit was exceeded would not have occurred without the contribution from Asian air pollution.

This research also showed that an index based on satellite observations of Asian pollution plumes could serve as an early warning indicator, with a lead time of 1 to 3 days, of Asian pollution influence on western US air quality.

For this study, Asian pollution contribution is determined by the difference between pairs of GFDL AM3 model simulations, with and without Asian emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The authors note their estimates should be viewed as upper limits due to the non-linearity of ozone chemistry.

Asian pollution plumes crossing the Pacific Ocean caught by the NASA satellite, (showing column densities of carbon monoxide in 1018 molecules cm-2 from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder onboard the NASA Aqua satellite)
Asian pollution plumes crossing the Pacific Ocean caught by the NASA satellite, (showing column densities of carbon monoxide in 1018 molecules cm-2 from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder onboard the NASA Aqua satellite)
Asian contribution to daily maximum 8-hour surface ozone, as estimated with the GFDL AM3 model, plotted as a function of total ozone abundances in Southern California and Arizona. Points falling within the green and red trapezoids denote values in excess of 60 and 70 ppbv, respectively, that would not have occurred in the absence of Asian emissions in the model.
Asian contribution to daily maximum 8-hour surface ozone, as estimated with the GFDL AM3 model, plotted as a function of total ozone abundances in Southern California and Arizona. Points falling within the green and red trapezoids denote values in excess of 60 and 70 ppbv, respectively, that would not have occurred in the absence of Asian emissions in the model.