Understanding the local and remote source contributions to ambient O_3 during a pollution episode using a combination of experimental approaches in the Guadalquivir valley, southern Spain

摘要

The Guadalquivir Valley is one of three major O_3 hotspots in Spain. An airborne and surface measurement campaign was carried out from July 9th to 11th, 2019 to quantify the local/regional O_3 contributions using experimental approaches. Air quality and meteorology data from surface measurements, a microlight aircraft, a helium balloon, and remote sensing data (TROPOMI-NO2-ESA) were used to obtain the 3D distribution of O_3 and various tracer pollutants. O_3 accumulation over 2.5 days started with inputs from oceanic air masses transported inland by sea breezes, which drew O_3 and its precursors from a local/regional origin to the northeastern end of the basin. The orographic-meteorological setting of the valley caused vertical recirculation of the air masses inside the valley that caused the accumulation by increasing regional background O_3 concentration by 25-30 ppb. Furthermore, possible Mediterranean O_3 contributions and additional vertical recirculation through the entrainment zone of the convective boundary layer also contributed. Using paniculate matter finer than 2.5μm (PM_(2.5)), ultrafine particles (UFP), and black carbon (BC) as tracers of local sources, we calculated that local contributions increased regional O_3 levels by 20 ppb inside specific pollution plumes transported by the breeze into the valley, and by 10 ppb during midday when flying over an area with abundant agricultural burning during the morning. Air masses that crossed the southern boundaries of the Betic system at mid-altitude (400-1850 m a.s.l.) on July 10th and nth may have provided additional O_3. Meanwhile, a decreasing trend at high altitudes (3000-5000 m a.s.l.) was observed, signifying that the impact of stratospheric O_3 intrusion decreased during the campaign.