Ozone and Trace Gas Trends in the UK and Links to Changing Air Mass Pathways

Abstract:

Trace gas measurements from UK measurement sites on the North Sea coast and in central London reveal a complicated relationship between NO2, CO, hydrocarbons and ozone. Due to the location of the sites, they receive air masses from the UK, Europe, the North sea, Scandinavia and the Arctic and Atlantic Seas and any seasonality is hard to discern. The transport pathway of air masses that can change on an hourly timescale clearly influences the trace gas levels.

Investigations into how the transport pathways have changed over the years, using the NAME dispersion model try to elucidate whether it is the ‘where’ (transport pathway) or the ‘what’ (trace gas emissions) that is leading to the ozone trends recorded over the past few years.