Understanding Tropospheric Ozone Variability in the Arctic

The Arctic is a region that has been subject to drastic changes in the climate partially due to transported pollutants which strongly impact the composition of the atmosphere and associated feedbacks. Tropospheric ozone is an atmospheric species formed by the reaction of precursor species (NOx, CO, VOC's) in the presence of UV radiation and drives complex interactions which can result in impacts on atmospheric conditions in the Arctic. As an important greenhouse gas, ozone has a significant influence on the photochemical characteristics, oxidation capacity, and radiative forcing of the atmosphere and at high levels has negative impacts on public health and overall ecosystem functioning. In the Arctic, tropospheric ozone has variable characteristics in time and space. Seasonal variation of ozone is controlled by many factors influencing the production and destruction of ozone. The arctic ozone conditions are strongly influenced by seasonal destruction events, arctic haze, transport of pollution from Asia and influence from precursor compounds released from wildfires. This study investigates long-term ozone variation, seasonal surface ozone conditions, and characterizes deviations from expected ozone levels at four arctic ozone measurement locations (Barrow Alaska, Tiksi Russia, Summit Greenland, and Villum Station Greenland). Frequency of ozone depletion events and high ozone episodes for each station over time provides a context for the changing conditions of ozone in the arctic. NOAA Hysplit back-trajectory analysis, satellite imagery, NOAA Smoke verification model, co-located carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and aerosol optical depth measurements are used to understand the dominant source of pollution, pollutant composition, and the interactions due to meteorological conditions that result in anomalies in the ozone mixing ratio records. Characterization of ozone behavior and influences on the measurement locations is essential for understanding the spatial and temporal variation and behavior of ozone as it relates to climate change in the arctic.