Recent Results of Ambient Ozone Monitoring in Southern Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, California

Abstract:

Ambient ozone has been monitored in the southern Sierra Nevada and White Mountains of California as 2-week average concentrations with Ogawa passive samplers and as 1-hour average concentrations with 2B Technologies UV absorption monitors. Our summer season investigations have included: (1) an elevational transect (1,237 to 4,342 masl) consisting of 5 sites in the White Mountains (2009 -2014); (2) a west to east southern Sierra Nevada transect consisting of 9 sites at elevations between 510 and 3,490 masl (2012 and 2013); and (3) two sites at the Devils Postpile National Monument at 2,130 masl (2007 – 2014). In the White Mountains average ozone concentrations increased with elevation, reaching the highest values at White Mountain Summit. A strongly pronounced diurnal distribution of ozone was observed at the low elevation site in Bishop (OVS), with low values at night and in the early morning and highest concentrations during mid-day. High elevation sites (Crooked Creek, Barcroft Station and Summit) were characterized by flat ozone curves with similar concentrations during daytime and nighttime, typically around 50 ppb. During the 2013 summer season, two-week averages from passive samplers ranged from 32 to 60 ppb for all White Mountains sites with the highest values at the Summit and the lowest at OVS. Along the southern Sierra Nevada transect, average concentrations in summer 2013 ranged from 36.5 to 54.0 ppb with the highest value recorded at the highest elevation eastern site, Piute Pass, and the lowest at low-elevation and western Shaver Lake site. Prather, Mountain Rest and Shaver Lake sites had the most exceedances of 8 h federal health standard of 75 ppb and the California health standard of 70 ppb. The Devils Postpile site was characterized by low ozone concentrations at night and in the early morning, and late afternoon maxima. In 2007 and 2008 the ozone values measured at Devils Postpile occasionally exceeded the federal health standard, with more numerous violations of the California health standard. These results will be discussed from a perspective of other monitoring campaigns conducted by our team in the Sierra Nevada, and they will be compared to concurrent results from nearby low elevation sites. We will also discuss effects of the recent Sierra Nevada wildland fires on ozone levels and distribution.