Description:

Particles used to simulate the atmospheric flow are overlayed contoured AIRS ozone data over the Eastern US for the summer months of June - August, for the years 1991, 1993, and 1995.. The contoured plots of the AIRS ozone data were created by performing a linear interpolation (i.e. morphing) between the 2:00 PM ozone data..

Purpose:

The merging of the flow visualization and ozone data is to illustrate transport of regional ozone over the course of several days. Also to show how ozone concentrations are related to atmospheric transport phenomena in the lower atmosphere, such as air stagnation, ventilation, and general the atmospheric movement.

Method:

The atmospheric flow simulation was calculated using the CAPITA Monte Carlo model, and 3-D Eulerian wind fields generated from the National Meteorological Centers Nested Grid Model. Particles were released every two hours from all major NOx sources in the Eastern US in proportion to the NOx emission rates from the 1985 NAPAP emission enventory. The particles were given a characteristic lifetime of 28 hours, and were removed if they encountered precipitation. The morphed plots of the AIRS ozone data were created by first spatially interpolating the 2:00 PM ozone data, i.e. contouring, then performing a linear interpolation, i.e. morphing, between the 2:00 PM ozone contours.

Interpretation:

The particles are ment to strictly aid in the visualization of the atmospheric flow and regional scale movement of ozone. The particle density is not ment to have any relationship to the ozone concentrations.

Events throughout the animations illustrate how the regional ozone is related to the atmospheric transport processes. For example, from 7/15/91 - 7/16/91 a clockwise moving airmass was center over the Industrial Midwest. During this time, the ozone concentrations throughout the region increased. The airmass then was transported to the east-northeast, and as it moved the ozone concentrations increased over Pennsylvania and New York.