Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations
Recent studies have shown significant challenges for atmospheric models to simulate tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and its precursors in the Arctic. In this study, ground-based data were combined with a global 3-D chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to examine the abundance and s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/14661/2017/acp-17-14661-2017.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811320891122909184 |
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| author | Y. Huang Y. Huang S. Wu S. Wu S. Wu L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer D. Helmig R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath |
| author_facet | Y. Huang Y. Huang S. Wu S. Wu S. Wu L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer D. Helmig R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath |
| author_sort | Y. Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent studies have shown significant challenges for atmospheric
models to simulate tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and its precursors in the
Arctic. In this study, ground-based data were combined with a global 3-D
chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to examine the abundance and seasonal
variations of O<sub>3</sub> and its precursors at Summit, Greenland
(72.34° N, 38.29° W; 3212 m a.s.l.). Model simulations for
atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), ethane
(C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub>), propane (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>), carbon monoxide (CO), and O<sub>3</sub>
for the period July 2008–June 2010 were compared with observations. The model
performed well in simulating certain species (such as CO and C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>),
but some significant discrepancies were identified for other species and
further investigated. The model generally underestimated NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and PAN (by ∼ 50 and 30 %, respectively) for March–June. Likely
contributing factors to the low bias include missing NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and PAN
emissions from snowpack chemistry in the model. At the same time, the model
overestimated NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> mixing ratios by more than a factor of 2 in
wintertime, with episodic NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> mixing ratios up to 15 times higher than
the typical NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> levels at Summit. Further investigation showed that
these simulated episodic NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> spikes were always associated with
transport events from Europe, but the exact cause remained unclear. The model
systematically overestimated C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> mixing ratios by approximately
20 % relative to observations. This discrepancy can be resolved by
decreasing anthropogenic C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> emissions over Asia and the US by ∼ 20 %, from 5.4 to 4.4 Tg year<sup>−1</sup>. GEOS-Chem was able to reproduce the
seasonal variability of O<sub>3</sub> and its spring maximum. However, compared
with observations, it underestimated surface O<sub>3</sub> by approximately 13 %
(6.5 ppbv) from April to July. This low bias appeared to be driven by several
factors including missing snowpack emissions of NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and nitrous acid in
the model, the weak simulated stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange flux of
O<sub>3</sub> over the summit, and the coarse model resolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:07:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77f055371b104a998572562924aa3383 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:07:28Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-77f055371b104a998572562924aa33832022-12-22T02:45:43ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242017-12-0117146611467410.5194/acp-17-14661-2017Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulationsY. Huang0Y. Huang1S. Wu2S. Wu3S. Wu4L. J. Kramer5L. J. Kramer6L. J. Kramer7D. Helmig8R. E. Honrath9R. E. Honrath10R. E. Honrath11Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAnow at: Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USADepartment of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAAtmospheric Sciences Program, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USACollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAAtmospheric Sciences Program, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAnow at: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UKInstitute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USADepartment of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAAtmospheric Sciences Program, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USAdeceasedRecent studies have shown significant challenges for atmospheric models to simulate tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and its precursors in the Arctic. In this study, ground-based data were combined with a global 3-D chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to examine the abundance and seasonal variations of O<sub>3</sub> and its precursors at Summit, Greenland (72.34° N, 38.29° W; 3212 m a.s.l.). Model simulations for atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), ethane (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub>), propane (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>), carbon monoxide (CO), and O<sub>3</sub> for the period July 2008–June 2010 were compared with observations. The model performed well in simulating certain species (such as CO and C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>), but some significant discrepancies were identified for other species and further investigated. The model generally underestimated NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and PAN (by ∼ 50 and 30 %, respectively) for March–June. Likely contributing factors to the low bias include missing NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and PAN emissions from snowpack chemistry in the model. At the same time, the model overestimated NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> mixing ratios by more than a factor of 2 in wintertime, with episodic NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> mixing ratios up to 15 times higher than the typical NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> levels at Summit. Further investigation showed that these simulated episodic NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> spikes were always associated with transport events from Europe, but the exact cause remained unclear. The model systematically overestimated C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> mixing ratios by approximately 20 % relative to observations. This discrepancy can be resolved by decreasing anthropogenic C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> emissions over Asia and the US by ∼ 20 %, from 5.4 to 4.4 Tg year<sup>−1</sup>. GEOS-Chem was able to reproduce the seasonal variability of O<sub>3</sub> and its spring maximum. However, compared with observations, it underestimated surface O<sub>3</sub> by approximately 13 % (6.5 ppbv) from April to July. This low bias appeared to be driven by several factors including missing snowpack emissions of NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and nitrous acid in the model, the weak simulated stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange flux of O<sub>3</sub> over the summit, and the coarse model resolution.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/14661/2017/acp-17-14661-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Y. Huang Y. Huang S. Wu S. Wu S. Wu L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer L. J. Kramer D. Helmig R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath R. E. Honrath Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations |
| title_full | Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations |
| title_fullStr | Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations |
| title_short | Surface ozone and its precursors at Summit, Greenland: comparison between observations and model simulations |
| title_sort | surface ozone and its precursors at summit greenland comparison between observations and model simulations |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/14661/2017/acp-17-14661-2017.pdf |
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