Monitoring Ozone and Atmospheric Pollutants in the Troposphere to Help Regulate Point Source Emissions and Improve Ozone Advisory Messages by the National Park Service

Ozone in the stratosphere serves as a boundary that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone in the troposphere is hazardous to both human and plant health. Anthropogenic activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, are the main catalysts for high levels of tropospheric ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides. The warmer months, from May to September, typically display higher levels of tropospheric ozone located near urban areas with large populations. Tropospheric ozone forms from nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reacting with sunlight, and fluctuates throughout the day displaying its peak concentration during mid-to-late afternoon. Lower concentrations occur during the early morning when the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is lowest and ozone molecules have not formed from the nitrogen oxide and VOCs reacting. NASA Earth observations can be used to monitor these atmospheric constituents. This project used Aura's Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) to look at tropospheric ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The analysis and mapping of these atmospheric constituents provided data to compare to the National Park Service's ground-level air quality stations. This project determined whether OMI and MLS are effective sensors for observing air pollutants in the troposphere and create visual aids of correlations and general trends.

Location

NASA Langley Research Center
Wise County Clerk of Court's Office

Term

Summer 2016

Partner(s)

National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park
National Park Service, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Air Resources Division
National Park Service, Northeast Region
National Park Service, Inventory & Monitoring Program, Northeast Temperate Network
National Park Service, Appalachian National Scenic Trail

NASA Earth Observations

Aura, OMI
Aura, MLS

Team

Amy Wolfe (Project Lead)
Amber Showers
Emily Beyer
Eric White
Tyler Rhodes

Advisor(s)

Dr. Kenton Ross (NASA DEVELOP National Program)
Dr. Travis Knepp (NASA Langley Research Center - SSAI)

Project Video