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An investigation of ozone distribution downwind of Greater Vancouver, British Columbia using a novel aircraft measurement system

University of British Columbia

A fast response chemiluminescent ozone sonde originally intended for use as a balloon borne instrument, was deployed on a single engine light aircraft to determine mean ozone concentrations in the boundary layer downwind of a major urban centre. Vancouver is a coastal city at the mouth of a major river delta and valley walled in by mountains to the north and east. Hence, the pollutant distribution during anti-cyclonic conditions is influenced by the thermally induced flows of the sea/land breeze and mountain/valley wind systems. This study focused on ozone concentration in a steep walled, glacial valley near the city, where ozone concentrations had not been previously monitored but were suspected to be high. Measurements confirmed this hypothesis and the mass budget of ozone for the valley was calculated for a period shortly after sunrise when the rate of boundary layer growth was at its maximum. The high levels of ozone found in the valley were partly attributed to residual layer storage of ozone above the nocturnal stable layer. This overnight storage of ozone during sustained anti-cyclonic conditions suggests that the Pitt River valley and possibly other tributary valleys represent an important net sink for ozone emanating from precursor sources in the Lower Fraser Valley.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-03-11

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5888

Atmospheric Science

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace