The influence of synoptic scale wind patterns on column integrated nitrogen dioxide, ground level ozone, and the development of sea breeze circulations in the New York City metropolitan area

Abstract

The continually changing atmospheric conditions over densely populated coastal urban regions make it challenging to produce models that accurately capture the complex interactions of anthropogenic and environmental emissions, chemical reactions, and unique meteorological processes, such as sea- and land-breeze circulations. The purpose of this study is to determine and identify the influence of synoptic scale wind patterns on the development of local scale sea breeze circulations and air quality over the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area. This study utilizes column integrated nitrogen dioxide observations made during the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study (LISTOS) field campaign, ground level ozone observations, the HRRR numerical weather prediction model, and trajectory model simulations using the NOAA HYSPLIT model. A cluster analysis within the HYSPLIT modeling system was performed to determine that there were six unique synoptic scale transport pathways for NYC. Stagnant conditions or weak transport out of the northwest resulted in the worst air quality for NYC. Weak synoptic scale forcings associated with these conditions allowed for local scale sea breeze circulations to develop resulting in air pollution to recirculate and mix with freshly emitted pollutants.