An Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Study on Pikes Peak in Support of Pulmonary Edema Research

摘要

Measurements of atmospheric trace gases on the summit of Pikes Peak (14,110 ft) from late July through mid-October 1967 were made in support of pulmonary edema research. Supporting meteorological data were also collected. Local intermittent contamination by combustion products afforded an opportunity to examine conditions corresponding to those which might be experienced by troops in encampments. Concentrations of ozone (O3), in uncontaminated air showed a maximum at night and a minimum during the daytime. The daytime minimum is attributed to mixing of the air from the altitude of the peak with O3-depleted air from near ground level in adjacent valleys and plains. In contaminated air, O3 concentration on the average showed no maximum, and mean values for each hour were considerably lower than in uncontaminated air. This reduction results from destruction of ozone by NO from combustion products; measured concentrations of NO appear adequate to account for the decrease in O3. Auxiliary stations for O3 measurement on the mountainside (10,840 ft) and at the base of the mountain (7,780 ft) showed the daytime maximum and nighttime minimum normally experienced in the lowlands. A trend from high concentrations of O3 in July to lower concentration in October is apparent, conforming with the normal pattern of tropospheric ozone. A dampening of the diurnal wave pattern of O3 concentration is evident as the average concentration decreases. (Author)