Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) in the Arctic Troposphere at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard Islands): Effects of Anthropogenic Pollution Sources

Atmospheric measurements of nitrogen oxides (NO x = NO + NO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ) and other constituents were carried out during three field campaigns (29 March–30 April 2010, 1–26 April 2011, 18 May–8 October 2015) at Ny-Ålesund. The study focused on the variability of important O 3 precursors, such as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere
Main Authors: Antonietta Ianniello, Roberto Salzano, Rosamaria Salvatori, Giulio Esposito, Francesca Spataro, Mauro Montagnoli, Rosanna Mabilia, Antonello Pasini
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
nitrogen oxides
ozone depletion events
radon progeny
local pollution sources
long-range pollution sources
Meteorology. Climatology
QC851-999
Arctic
Arctic Ocean
Ny-Ålesund
Svalbard
Ny Ålesund
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12070901
https://doaj.org/article/aaff768c6ee14fa8a2467394dfafb09d
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Summary:Atmospheric measurements of nitrogen oxides (NO x = NO + NO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ) and other constituents were carried out during three field campaigns (29 March–30 April 2010, 1–26 April 2011, 18 May–8 October 2015) at Ny-Ålesund. The study focused on the variability of important O 3 precursors, such as NO x , in the Arctic troposphere, and on the impact from anthropogenic sources on their measured concentrations: higher NO and NO 2 levels were mostly associated with the lowest wind speeds and northern directions, indicating local pollution. Long-range transported sources from Russia and Europe were also identified with an occurrence of high NO x levels. Several ozone depletion events were observed and associated to winds blowing from the north-west direction (Arctic Ocean). Most of these events were connected to the lower NO and NO 2 concentrations. Measurements of halogen and low molecular weight carbonyl compounds in 2010 and 2011, respectively, showed variable effects during the ozone depletion events. Other data, such as high time-resolved radon progeny measurements, were used in 2015 to identify source tracking and transport of air masses, local effects and atmospheric stability dynamics that could influence the NO x concentrations at Ny-Ålesund.

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