Nitrogen oxides and PAN in plumes from boreal fires during ARCTAS-B and their impact on ozone: an integrated analysis of aircraft and satellite observations

• DOI: 10.5194/acp-10-9739-2010
• Publication Date: 2010-10-18T08:13:58Z
• Authors: M. J. Alvarado; J. A. Logan; J. Mao; E. Apel; D. Riemer; D. Blake; R. C. Cohen; K.-E. Min; A. E. Perring; E. C. Browne; P. J. Wooldridge; G. S. Diskin; G. W. Sachse; H. Fuelberg; W. R. Sessions; D. L. Harrigan; G. Huey; J. Liao; A. Case-Hanks; J. L. Jimenez; M. J. Cubison; S. A. Vay; A. J. Weinheimer; D. J. Knapp; D. D. Montzka; F. M. Flocke; I. B. Pollack; P. O. Wennberg; A. Kurten; J. Crounse; J. M. St. Clair; A. Wisthaler; T. Mikoviny; R. M. Yantosca; C. C. Carouge; P. Le Sager
• Keywords: Tropospheric ozone; Extratropical cyclone

Abstract. We determine enhancement ratios for NOx, PAN, and other NOy species from boreal biomass burning using aircraft data obtained during the ARCTAS-B campaign examine impact of these emissions on tropospheric ozone in Arctic. find an initial emission factor NOx 1.06 g NO per kg dry matter (DM) burned, much lower than previous observations plumes, also one third value recommended extratropical fires. Our analysis provides first observational confirmation rapid PAN formation a smoke plume, with 40% being converted to few hours after emission. little clear evidence plumes either or satellite observations, model simulations. Only observed by NASA DC8 showed correlation between CO, was depleted as often it enhanced. Special Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) show enhanced 15 June July 2008. Of 22 TES, only 4 increasing within even those cases unclear that increase caused fire emissions. Using GEOS-Chem atmospheric chemistry model, we fires had median profile measured over Canada, TES.