Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Regional and Large-Scale Influences on Summer Ozone Levels in Southern California

Laurie Agel University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts

Search for other papers by Laurie Agel in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Vianney Lopez CH2M Hill, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada

Search for other papers by Vianney Lopez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Mathew Barlow University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts

Search for other papers by Mathew Barlow in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Frank Colby University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts

Search for other papers by Frank Colby in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Apr 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JAMC2605.1
Page(s):
800–805
Restricted access

Abstract

The links between daily ozone levels in Southern California and atmospheric circulation at regional and large scales are examined for July–September 1994–2001. The monitoring station in Pasadena is used as the primary basis for ozone analysis; comparison with other stations validates its representativeness for Southern California. Comparing the 10% of highest-ozone days with the 10% of lowest-ozone days for Pasadena reveals a large regional difference in 700-hPa vertical velocity over Southern California, consistent with changes to the ventilation and depth of the boundary layer. Analysis of the associated changes in midlevel (500 hPa) circulation reveals near-continental-scale differences, with very large modifications in the strength and position of the North American anticyclone. These links between daily ozone levels and regional and large-scale atmospheric circulation features suggest the potential for using currently available medium-range weather forecasts in ozone prediction.

Corresponding author address: Laurie Agel, 200 Mill Rd., Suite 325, Fairhaven, MA 02718. E-mail: lagel@umassd.edu

Abstract

The links between daily ozone levels in Southern California and atmospheric circulation at regional and large scales are examined for July–September 1994–2001. The monitoring station in Pasadena is used as the primary basis for ozone analysis; comparison with other stations validates its representativeness for Southern California. Comparing the 10% of highest-ozone days with the 10% of lowest-ozone days for Pasadena reveals a large regional difference in 700-hPa vertical velocity over Southern California, consistent with changes to the ventilation and depth of the boundary layer. Analysis of the associated changes in midlevel (500 hPa) circulation reveals near-continental-scale differences, with very large modifications in the strength and position of the North American anticyclone. These links between daily ozone levels and regional and large-scale atmospheric circulation features suggest the potential for using currently available medium-range weather forecasts in ozone prediction.

Corresponding author address: Laurie Agel, 200 Mill Rd., Suite 325, Fairhaven, MA 02718. E-mail: lagel@umassd.edu
Save
Cover Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

  • Adams, D. K., and A. C. Comrie, 1997: The North American monsoon. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 2197–2213.

  • Aneja, V. P., S. Businger, Z. Li, C. S. Claiborn, and A. Murthy, 1991: Ozone climatology at high elevations in the southern Appalachians. J. Geophys. Res., 96, 1007–1021.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Barna, M., B. Lamb, S. O’Neill, H. Westberg, C. Figueroa-Kaminsky, S. Otterson, C. Bowman, and J. DeMay, 2000: Modeling ozone formation and transport in the Cascadia region of the Pacific Northwest. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 349–366.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Darby, L. S., 2005: Cluster analysis of surface winds in Houston, Texas, and the impact of wind patterns on ozone. J. Appl. Meteor., 44, 1788–1806.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kalnay, E., and Coauthors, 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437–471.

  • Kalnay, E., S. Lord, and R. McPherson, 1998: Maturity of operational numerical weather prediction: Medium range. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 79, 2753–2769.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mueller, S. F., 1994: Characterization of ambient ozone levels in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. J. Appl. Meteor., 33, 465–472.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • National Research Council, 1991: Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Urban and Regional Air Pollution. National Academy Press, 524 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Niccum, E. M., D. E. Lehrman, and W. R. Knuth, 1995: The influence of meteorology on the air quality in the San Luis Obispo County–southwestern San Joaquin Valley region for 3–6 August 1990. J. Appl. Meteor., 34, 1834–1847.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rodwell, M. J., and B. J. Hoskins, 2001: Subtropical anticyclones and summer monsoons. J. Climate, 14, 3192–3211.

  • Seinfeld, J., 1986: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics of Air Pollution. Wiley-Interscience, 786 pp.

  • Stull, R. B., 1988: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology. Kluwer Academic, 666 pp.

  • Vallero, D., 2008: Fundamentals of Air Pollution. 4th ed. Academic Press, 942 pp.

  • Zhang, J., and S. T. Rao, 1999: The role of vertical mixing in the temporal evolution of ground-level ozone concentrations. J. Appl. Meteor., 38, 1674–1691.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhang, J., S. T. Rao, and S. M. Daggupaty, 1998: Meteorological processes and ozone exceedances in the northeastern United States during the 12–16 July 1995 episode. J. Appl. Meteor., 37, 776–789.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 391 244 59
PDF Downloads 105 34 1