Observational evidence for the impact of the lake breeze circulation on ozone concentrations in Southern Ontario

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 323 - 335
• Main Authors: Hastie, D.R., Narayan, J., Schiller, C., Niki, H., Shepson, P.B., Sills, D.M.L., Taylor, P.A., Moroz, Wm.J., Drummond, J.W., Reid, N., Taylor, R., Roussel, P.B., Melo, O.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Air quality; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Convection, turbulence, diffusion. Boundary layer structure and dynamics; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Freshwater; Lake breeze; Meteorology; Oxidant production; PAN; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Canada; Great Lakes of America; Lake Ontario; North America; Ontario; America; Canada, Ontario, Ontario L; Oxidant production; Air quality; PAN; Lake breeze; Meteorology; Ambient air concentration; Atmospheric condition; Troposphere; Rural area; Pollutant creation; Ozone; Air pollution; Wind effect; Urban area; Precursor; Breeze
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00199-X

Very rapid increases in the concentrations of ozone and ozone precursors, in the late afternoon, have been observed at a rural and an urban site in southern Ontario. Ozone concentration increases of 30 ppbv in a few minutes have been observed. These increases occur simultaneously with the arrival of a Lake Ontario lake breeze front as identified from meteorological measurements and visible satellite imagery. This indicates that polluted air masses from over Lake Ontario are being transported inland by the lake breeze. Aircraft measurements of ozone, NO x , and hydrocarbons show such an air mass moving inland. Chemical measurements at the sites show that the polluted air masses are not of local origin, but are of similar age to those regularly encountered in rural areas.