Article

 

Effects of temperature-dependent NOx emissions on continental ozone production Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/articles/6395w778v
Abstract
  • Surface ozone concentrations are observed to increase with rising temperatures, but the mechanisms responsible for this effect in rural and remote continental regions remain uncertain. Better understanding of the effects of temperature on ozone is crucial to understanding global air quality and how it may be affected by climate change. We combine measurements from a focused ground campaign in summer 2013 with a long-term record from a forested site in the rural southeastern United States, to examine how daily average temperature affects ozone production. We find that changes to local chemistry are key drivers of increased ozone concentrations on hotter days, with integrated daily ozone production increasing by 2.3 ppb ∘C−1. Nearly half of this increase is attributable to temperature-driven increases in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), most likely by soil microbes. The increase of soil NOx emissions with temperature suggests that ozone will continue to increase with temperature in the future, even as direct anthropogenic NOx emissions decrease dramatically. The links between temperature, soil NOx, and ozone form a positive climate feedback.
Creator
Date Issued
  • 2018-02-22
Academic Affiliation
Journal Title
Journal Issue/Number
  • 4.0
Journal Volume
  • 18.0
Last Modified
  • 2019-12-06
Resource Type
Rights Statement
DOI
ISSN
  • 1680-7324
Language
License

Relationships

Items