Measurements of nitrogen oxides from Hudson Bay: Implications for NOx release from snow and ice covered surfaces

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 44; no. 25; pp. 2971 - 2979
• Main Authors: MOLLER, S. J, LEE, J. D, ROSCOE, H, LEWIS, A. C, CARPENTER, L. J, COMMANE, R, EDWARDS, P, HEARD, D. E, HOPKINS, J, INGHAM, T, MAHAJAN, A. S, OETJEN, H, PLANE, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.08.2010
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Emission; Emission analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Latitude; Marine; Nitrogen oxides; Pollution; Sea ice; Snow; Snow cover; Snowpack; Trajectories; Canada; North Atlantic; North America; Hudson Bay; Atlantic Ocean; America; ANW, Canada; PNW, Canada, Hudson Bay; Nitrogen oxide; NO; Snow; Snow-atmosphere interactions; Emission content; Nitrogen compounds; Box modelling; Ice cover; Pollutant emission; Modeling; Transport process; COBRA; emission; Air mass; Source localization; Box model; Air pollution; Snow cover; Trajectory; Nitrogen dioxide; Mixing ratio; Sea ice; Photochemistry
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.05.015

Measurements of NO and NO2 were made at a surface site (55.28 AN, 77.77 AW) near Kuujjuarapik, Canada during February and March 2008. NOx mixing ratios ranged from near zero to 350pptv with emission from snow believed to be the dominant source. The amount of NOx was observed to be dependent on the terrain over which the airmass has passed before reaching the measurement site. The 24h average NOx emission rates necessary to reproduce observations were calculated using a zero-dimensional box model giving rates ranging from 6.9x10 super(8) molecule cm super(-2)s super(-1) to 1.2x10 super(9) molecule cm super(-2)s super(-1) for trajectories over land and from 3.8x10 super(8) molecule cm super(-2)s super(-1) to 6.6x10 super(8) molecule cm super(-2)s super(-1) for trajectories over sea ice. These emissions are higher than those suggested by previous studies and indicate the importance of lower latitude snowpack emissions. The difference in emission rate for the two types of snow cover shows the importance of snow depth and underlying surface type for the emission potential of snow-covered areas.