Transport mechanisms of nocturnal surface ozone over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abdulilah Khalid Alduwais; Hari Prasad Dasari; Rama Krishna Karumuri; Harikishan Gandham; Badr H. Alharbi; Karumuri Ashok; Ibrahim Hoteit

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120069

Transport mechanisms of nocturnal surface ozone over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abdulilah Khalid Alduwais, Hari Prasad Dasari, Rama Krishna Karumuri, Harikishan Gandham, Badr H. Alharbi, Karumuri Ashok, Ibrahim Hoteit^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated ozone (O₃) transport mechanisms and their impact on observed nocturnal surface O₃ (NSO) enhancements over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used O₃ measurements for the summer of 2012 to examine the NSO enhancements across the city. We found that out of the 88 days for which observations were available, NSO enhancements could be observed on 38 days. The average difference in the NSO concentration between NSO-enhanced days and nonenhanced days was ∼15 ppb, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our analysis of the regional surface emission sources, potential vorticity (PV), and back trajectories using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model indicated that out of 38 days, the NSO enhancements on 18 days (47%), 14 days (37%), 4 days (11%), and 2 days (5%) are due to local transport, long-range transport from highly polluted regions and from stratospheric intrusion regions located at a considerable distance from Riyadh, and a combination of long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion and highly polluted regions, respectively. We then investigated the relevance of each transport mechanism for the increased NSO concentrations during five protracted episodes, each marked by three consecutive days of NSO enhancement. Our results demonstrated that the local transport, long-range transport of O₃-rich air masses from highly polluted regions to the east and northeast of the KSA, and local descent over Riyadh increased the average NSO concentration by up to 43%. Moreover, we found that long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion regions north of the KSA increased the average NSO concentration by up to 46%. The combination of long-range transport and stratospheric intrusion increased the average NSO concentration by ∼180%. These increases were usually associated with strong northwest regional winds flowing over highly polluted and major stratospheric intrusion regions.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	120069
Journal	Atmospheric Environment
Volume	313
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120069
State	Published - Nov 15 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology . The in situ O 3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology ( https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis ). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem ( https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php ).

Funding Information:
This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The in situ O3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology (https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem (https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Nocturnal surface O3 (NSO)
Riyadh
Stratospheric intrusion
Transport mechanism
Tropopause folds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Environmental Science
Atmospheric Science

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10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120069

Cite this

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title = "Transport mechanisms of nocturnal surface ozone over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia",

abstract = "This study investigated ozone (O3) transport mechanisms and their impact on observed nocturnal surface O3 (NSO) enhancements over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used O3 measurements for the summer of 2012 to examine the NSO enhancements across the city. We found that out of the 88 days for which observations were available, NSO enhancements could be observed on 38 days. The average difference in the NSO concentration between NSO-enhanced days and nonenhanced days was ∼15 ppb, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our analysis of the regional surface emission sources, potential vorticity (PV), and back trajectories using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model indicated that out of 38 days, the NSO enhancements on 18 days (47%), 14 days (37%), 4 days (11%), and 2 days (5%) are due to local transport, long-range transport from highly polluted regions and from stratospheric intrusion regions located at a considerable distance from Riyadh, and a combination of long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion and highly polluted regions, respectively. We then investigated the relevance of each transport mechanism for the increased NSO concentrations during five protracted episodes, each marked by three consecutive days of NSO enhancement. Our results demonstrated that the local transport, long-range transport of O3-rich air masses from highly polluted regions to the east and northeast of the KSA, and local descent over Riyadh increased the average NSO concentration by up to 43%. Moreover, we found that long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion regions north of the KSA increased the average NSO concentration by up to 46%. The combination of long-range transport and stratospheric intrusion increased the average NSO concentration by ∼180%. These increases were usually associated with strong northwest regional winds flowing over highly polluted and major stratospheric intrusion regions.",

keywords = "Nocturnal surface O3 (NSO), Riyadh, Stratospheric intrusion, Transport mechanism, Tropopause folds",

author = "Alduwais, {Abdulilah Khalid} and Dasari, {Hari Prasad} and Karumuri, {Rama Krishna} and Harikishan Gandham and Alharbi, {Badr H.} and Karumuri Ashok and Ibrahim Hoteit",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology . The in situ O 3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology ( https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis ). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem ( https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php ). Funding Information: This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The in situ O3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology (https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem (https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120069",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Transport mechanisms of nocturnal surface ozone over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

AU - Alduwais, Abdulilah Khalid

AU - Dasari, Hari Prasad

AU - Karumuri, Rama Krishna

AU - Gandham, Harikishan

AU - Alharbi, Badr H.

AU - Ashok, Karumuri

AU - Hoteit, Ibrahim

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology . The in situ O 3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology ( https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis ). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem ( https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php ). Funding Information: This work was funded by the office of the Vice President of Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The in situ O3 measurements were provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MERRA-2 and TCR-2 reanalysis were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology (https://tes.jpl.nasa.gov/tes/chemical-reanalysis). The ERA5 reanalysis was obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory for the provision of the HYSPLIT transport and dispersion model, which can be accessed through the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem (https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2023/11/15

Y1 - 2023/11/15

N2 - This study investigated ozone (O3) transport mechanisms and their impact on observed nocturnal surface O3 (NSO) enhancements over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used O3 measurements for the summer of 2012 to examine the NSO enhancements across the city. We found that out of the 88 days for which observations were available, NSO enhancements could be observed on 38 days. The average difference in the NSO concentration between NSO-enhanced days and nonenhanced days was ∼15 ppb, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our analysis of the regional surface emission sources, potential vorticity (PV), and back trajectories using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model indicated that out of 38 days, the NSO enhancements on 18 days (47%), 14 days (37%), 4 days (11%), and 2 days (5%) are due to local transport, long-range transport from highly polluted regions and from stratospheric intrusion regions located at a considerable distance from Riyadh, and a combination of long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion and highly polluted regions, respectively. We then investigated the relevance of each transport mechanism for the increased NSO concentrations during five protracted episodes, each marked by three consecutive days of NSO enhancement. Our results demonstrated that the local transport, long-range transport of O3-rich air masses from highly polluted regions to the east and northeast of the KSA, and local descent over Riyadh increased the average NSO concentration by up to 43%. Moreover, we found that long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion regions north of the KSA increased the average NSO concentration by up to 46%. The combination of long-range transport and stratospheric intrusion increased the average NSO concentration by ∼180%. These increases were usually associated with strong northwest regional winds flowing over highly polluted and major stratospheric intrusion regions.

AB - This study investigated ozone (O3) transport mechanisms and their impact on observed nocturnal surface O3 (NSO) enhancements over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used O3 measurements for the summer of 2012 to examine the NSO enhancements across the city. We found that out of the 88 days for which observations were available, NSO enhancements could be observed on 38 days. The average difference in the NSO concentration between NSO-enhanced days and nonenhanced days was ∼15 ppb, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our analysis of the regional surface emission sources, potential vorticity (PV), and back trajectories using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model indicated that out of 38 days, the NSO enhancements on 18 days (47%), 14 days (37%), 4 days (11%), and 2 days (5%) are due to local transport, long-range transport from highly polluted regions and from stratospheric intrusion regions located at a considerable distance from Riyadh, and a combination of long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion and highly polluted regions, respectively. We then investigated the relevance of each transport mechanism for the increased NSO concentrations during five protracted episodes, each marked by three consecutive days of NSO enhancement. Our results demonstrated that the local transport, long-range transport of O3-rich air masses from highly polluted regions to the east and northeast of the KSA, and local descent over Riyadh increased the average NSO concentration by up to 43%. Moreover, we found that long-range transport from stratospheric intrusion regions north of the KSA increased the average NSO concentration by up to 46%. The combination of long-range transport and stratospheric intrusion increased the average NSO concentration by ∼180%. These increases were usually associated with strong northwest regional winds flowing over highly polluted and major stratospheric intrusion regions.

KW - Nocturnal surface O3 (NSO)

KW - Riyadh

KW - Stratospheric intrusion

KW - Transport mechanism

KW - Tropopause folds

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DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120069

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SN - 1352-2310

VL - 313

JO - Atmospheric Environment

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ER -

Transport mechanisms of nocturnal surface ozone over Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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