Increasing Background Ozone in Surface Air Over the United States

Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 27, No. 21, pp. 3465-3468, November 1, 2000

Posted: 17 Nov 2004

See all articles by C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell

C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell

Cornell University

Daniel J. Jacob

Harvard University - Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences

J. William Munger

Harvard University - Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Arlene M. Fiore

Princeton University - Department of Geosciences

Abstract

The long-term trend of background O3 in surface air over the United States from 1980 to 1998 is examined using monthly probability distributions of daily maximum 8-hour average O3 concentrations at a large ensemble of rural sites. Ozone concentrations have decreased at the high end of the probability distribution (reflecting emission controls) but have increased at the low end. The cross-over takes place between the 30th and 50th percentiles in May-August and between the 60th and 90th percentiles during the rest of the year. The increase is statistically significant at a 5% level in spring and fall, when it is 3-5 ppbv. The maximum increase is in the Northeast. A possible explanation is an increase in the O3 background transported from outside the United States. Better understanding of the causes of the increase is needed because of its implications for meeting O3 air quality standards.

Keywords: Ozone, smog, air quality standards, background ozone, pollution control, air quality, transboundary pollution, externalities

JEL Classification: Q53, Q58, D62

Suggested Citation

Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia and Jacob, Daniel J. and Munger, J. William and Fiore, Arlene M., Increasing Background Ozone in Surface Air Over the United States. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 27, No. 21, pp. 3465-3468, November 1, 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=619923

C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell (Contact Author)

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

HOME PAGE: http://clinlawell.dyson.cornell.edu/

Daniel J. Jacob

Harvard University - Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences ( email )

1875 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

J. William Munger

Harvard University - Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences ( email )

1875 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Arlene M. Fiore

Princeton University - Department of Geosciences ( email )

Guyot Hall, Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544-1003
United States

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