Informal Lunchtime Atmospheric Chemistry Discussion Series
Presented by: Monika Aggarwal, Graduate Student
Description:
Lidar measurements of ozone and aerosol were conducted from a Twin Otter
aircraft above northern Alberta. The field campaign was carried out with a total
of five flights, during the period between August 22 and August 26, 2013.
Significant amounts of aerosol were observed within the boundary layer,
up to a height of 1.1 km above ground level, but the ozone concentration
remained at or below background levels (40 ppbv). On August 24th the lidar
observed a separated layer of aerosol above the boundary layer, at a height
of 1.8 km above ground level, in which the ozone mixing ratio increased
to 70 ppbv. Backward trajectory calculations revealed that the air
containing this separated aerosol layer had passed over an area of forest fires.
Directly below the layer of forest fire smoke, in the pollution, the
measured ozone mixing ratio was lower than the background levels (<35 ppbv).