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A pervasive role for biomass burning in tropical high ozone/low water structures

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel C. Anderson

    (University of Maryland)

  • Julie M. Nicely

    (University of Maryland)

  • Ross J. Salawitch

    (University of Maryland
    University of Maryland
    Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland)

  • Timothy P. Canty

    (University of Maryland)

  • Russell R. Dickerson

    (University of Maryland)

  • Thomas F. Hanisco

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Glenn M. Wolfe

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County)

  • Eric C. Apel

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Elliot Atlas

    (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami)

  • Thomas Bannan

    (Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Science, The University of Manchester)

  • Stephane Bauguitte

    (Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements)

  • Nicola J. Blake

    (Deparment of Chemistry, University of California)

  • James F. Bresch

    (Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Teresa L. Campos

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Lucy J. Carpenter

    (Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, University of York)

  • Mark D. Cohen

    (NOAA Air Resources Laboratory)

  • Mathew Evans

    (Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, University of York
    National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York)

  • Rafael P. Fernandez

    (Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC
    National Research Council (CONICET), FCEN-UNCuyo)

  • Brian H. Kahn

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Douglas E. Kinnison

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Samuel R. Hall

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Neil R.P. Harris

    (Cambridge University)

  • Rebecca S. Hornbrook

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Jean-Francois Lamarque

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research
    Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Michael Le Breton

    (Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Science, The University of Manchester)

  • James D. Lee

    (National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York)

  • Carl Percival

    (Centre for Atmospheric Science, School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Science, The University of Manchester)

  • Leonhard Pfister

    (NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field)

  • R. Bradley Pierce

    (NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research)

  • Daniel D. Riemer

    (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami)

  • Alfonso Saiz-Lopez

    (Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC)

  • Barbara J.B. Stunder

    (NOAA Air Resources Laboratory)

  • Anne M. Thompson

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Kirk Ullmann

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Adam Vaughan

    (National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York)

  • Andrew J. Weinheimer

    (Atmospheric Chemistry Observation and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

Abstract

Air parcels with mixing ratios of high O3 and low H2O (HOLW) are common features in the tropical western Pacific (TWP) mid-troposphere (300–700 hPa). Here, using data collected during aircraft sampling of the TWP in winter 2014, we find strong, positive correlations of O3 with multiple biomass burning tracers in these HOLW structures. Ozone levels in these structures are about a factor of three larger than background. Models, satellite data and aircraft observations are used to show fires in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia are the dominant source of high O3 and that low H2O results from large-scale descent within the tropical troposphere. Previous explanations that attribute HOLW structures to transport from the stratosphere or mid-latitude troposphere are inconsistent with our observations. This study suggest a larger role for biomass burning in the radiative forcing of climate in the remote TWP than is commonly appreciated.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel C. Anderson & Julie M. Nicely & Ross J. Salawitch & Timothy P. Canty & Russell R. Dickerson & Thomas F. Hanisco & Glenn M. Wolfe & Eric C. Apel & Elliot Atlas & Thomas Bannan & Stephane Bauguit, 2016. "A pervasive role for biomass burning in tropical high ozone/low water structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10267
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10267
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuan Wang & Yuanjian Yang & Qiangqiang Yuan & Tongwen Li & Yi Zhou & Lian Zong & Mengya Wang & Zunyi Xie & Hung Chak Ho & Meng Gao & Shilu Tong & Simone Lolli & Liangpei Zhang, 2025. "Substantially underestimated global health risks of current ozone pollution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.

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