Characteristics of the NO-NO₂-O₃ system in different chemical regimes during the MIRAGE-Mex field campaign

Z.-H. Shon (1) , S. Madronich (2) , S.-K. Song (3) , F. M. Flocke (2) , D. J. Knapp (2) , R. S. Anderson (2) , R. E. Shetter (2) , C. A. Cantrell (2) , S. R. Hall (2)

1 Department of Environmental Engineering
2 Atmospheric Chemistry Division [Boulder]
3 School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Atlanta]

The NO-NO₂ system was analyzed in different chemical regimes/air masses based on observations of reactive nitrogen species and peroxy radicals made during the intensive field campaign MIRAGE-Mex (4 to 29 March 2006). In general, NO₂/NO ratios, which can be used as an indicator to test current understanding of tropospheric chemistry mechanism, are near photostationary state. The air masses were categorized into 5 groups: boundary layer (labeled as "BL"), free troposphere (continental, "FTCO" and marine, "FTMA"), biomass burning ("BB"), and Tula industrial complex ("TIC"). The time- and air mass-dependent NO₂/NO ratios ranged from 2.35 (TIC) to 5.18 (BB), while the NO_x/NO_y ratios varied from 0.17 (FTCO) to 0.54 (BL). The ozone production efficiency for the 5 air mass categories ranged from 5.0 (TIC) to 10.2 (BL), indicating photochemically young and reactive air masses.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

Z.-H. Shon, S. Madronich, S.-K. Song, F. M. Flocke, D. J. Knapp, et al.. Characteristics of the NO-NO₂-O₃ system in different chemical regimes during the MIRAGE-Mex field campaign. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2008, 8 (1), pp.2275-2309. ⟨hal-00303287⟩