Evaluation of stratospheric intrusions and biomass burning plumes on the
vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone over the Midwestern U.S
Abstract
Naturally occurring ozone rich Stratosphere-to-Troposphere Transport
(STT) intrusions and biomass burning (BB) plumes reaching the surface
can contribute to exceedances of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for ground-level ozone (70 ppbv implemented in 2015).
Additionally, fires can inject significant pollution into the free
troposphere where it can be transported long distances. The combined air
quality impacts from these sources on ozone has only been analyzed in a
few case studies for the Midwest U.S. Here we study ozone impacts in a
Midwestern city, for the first time in St. Louis, Missouri, using a
series of ozonesonde profiles taken during the SEAC4RS (Studies of
Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by
Regional Surveys) field campaign in August-September 2013. All
ozonesondes showed enhancements above the background profile levels
(~55 ppbv) throughout each tropospheric column. Two
models were used to estimate ozone origins in columns. A chemical
transport model identified STT enhancements equivalent to 10 to 15 ppbv
over the background with a 10 to 15% contribution overall to the
column. Two FLEXPART-WRF simulations, one with smoke in the boundary
layer and another with smoke above, identified BB enhancements
equivalent to 10 to 80 ppbv. Overall, the total BB contribution is 15 to
30% of the total column. Five ozonesondes showed signatures of mixed BB
plumes and STT intrusions. During this study period, BB in the western
U.S. contributed 70% to ozone enhancements in the total column compared
to 3% from the central U.S and 27% from other areas.