Ozone transport by mesoscale and diurnal wind circulations across southern California

Abstract

This paper reviews sea level and elevated surface observations from Point Mugu and nearby Laguna Peak in southern Ventura County, rawin/ozonesonde data from Point Mugu, and aircraft measurements in the coastal zone and offshore obtained in support of the SCOS97-NARSTO effort. Streamline analyses of SCOS97-NARSTO wind data are also presented, which reveal synoptic and mesoscale influences on air flow over the southern California area. Complex diurnal, mesoscale and synoptic wind patterns redistribute pollutants across air basins. The data show that southeasterly flow, often present from morning into early afternoon, and coastal eddies and southerly surges convey ozone and precursors westward and northward where they may appear aloft as layers with several times the concentration of ozone at the surface. This flow can transport South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) pollutants via mountain passes to the desert where mixing with pollution from the San Joaquin Valley can occur. Climatological evidence shows this tendency for southerly flow in the earlier part of the day is a recurrent feature of southern California wind patterns, and a major mechanism for transport of ozone and precursors from the SCAB to coastal, inland and desert regions to the north. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.