Publication Date:
2019
Description:
Abstract
The role of the sea/bay‐breeze in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) evolution and air quality during a high ozone event day in the Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER‐AQ) Texas 2013 campaign was examined. Data from surface air quality monitoring network stations, airborne lidar data, and additional ground‐based lidar instrumentation deployed during the campaign allowed for a unique 3‐dimensional spatial and temporal study of the progression of both meteorological and air quality conditions in the Houston‐Galveston regions on September 25, 2013. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF‐Chem) model, was used to examine the relationship of the land and bay/sea‐breeze circulations and its influence on air quality during the case study. Comparisons between observations and simulations revealed the largest discrepancies near the Galveston Bay shore areas where the highly localized ozone concentrations were observed and were linked to the strength and timing of the bay/sea‐breeze progression. Additionally, results indicate vertical downmixing from the remnants of the nighttime residual layer during morning hours into the convective boundary layer, and from the lofted offshore return flow into the subjacent bay‐breeze flow.
Print ISSN:
2169-897X
Electronic ISSN:
2169-8996
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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