International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the integrated use of passive and active remote sensing instruments to quantify the rate of NO_x emissions, and investigate the O_x production rates from an urban area.
Place and Duration of Study: A research flight on June 15, 2010 was conducted over Bakersfield, CA and nearby areas with oil and natural gas production.
Methodology: Three remote sensing instruments, namely the University of Colorado AMAX-DOAS, NOAA TOPAZ lidar, and NCAS Doppler lidar were deployed aboard the NOAA Twin Otter during summer 2010. Production rates of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and O_x‘(background corrected O₃ + NO₂) were quantified using the horizontal flux divergence approach by flying closed loops near Bakersfield, CA. By making concurrent measurements of the trace gases as well as the wind fields, we have reduced the uncertainty due to wind field in production rates.
Results: We find that the entire region is a source for both NO₂ and O_x’. NO₂ production is highest over the city (1.35 kg hr^-1 km^-2 NO₂), and about 30 times lower at background sites (0.04 kg hr^-1 km^-2 NO₂). NOx emissions as represented in the CARB 2010 emission inventory agreewell with our measurements over Bakersfield city (within 30%). However, emissions upwind of the city are significantly underestimated. The Ox’ production is less variable, found ubiquitous, and accounts for 7.4 kg hr^_-1 km^-2 O_x’ at background sites. Interestingly, the maximum of 17.1 kg hr^-1 km^-2 O_x’production was observed upwind of the city. A plausible explanation for the efficient Ox’ production upwind of Bakersfield, CA are favorable volatile organic compound (VOC) to NO_x ratios for O_x’ production, that are affected by emissions from large oil and natural gas operations in that area.
Conclusion: The NO₂ and O₃ source fluxes vary significantly, and allow us to separate and map NO_x emissions and O_x production rates in the Central Valley. The data is probed over spatial scales that link closely with those predicted by atmospheric models, and provide innovative means to test and improve atmospheric models that are used to manage air resources. Emissions from oil and natural gas operations are a source for O₃ air pollution, and deserve further study to better characterize effects on public health.