Open AccessLarge contribution of biomass burning emissions to ozone throughout the global remote troposphere
Author(s) -
Ilann Bourgeois,
J. Peischl,
J. A. Neuman,
Steven S. Brown,
C. R. Thompson,
K. C. Aikin,
Hannah M. Allen,
Hélène Angot,
E. C. Apel,
Colleen B. Baublitz,
Jared F. Brewer,
P. CampuzanoJost,
R. Commane,
J. D. Crounse,
Bruce C. Daube,
Joshua P. DiGangi,
G. S. Diskin,
L. K. Emmons,
Arlene M. Fiore,
Georgios I. Gkatzelis,
A. J. Hills,
R. S. Hornbrook,
L. G. Huey,
José Jiménez,
Michelle Kim,
Forrest Lacey,
Kathryn McKain,
Lee T. Murray,
Benjamin A. Nault,
D. D. Parrish,
E. A. Ray,
C. Sweeney,
David J. Tanner,
Steven C. Wofsy,
Thomas B. Ryerson
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2109628118
Subject(s) - ozone , tropospheric ozone , environmental science , troposphere , radiative forcing , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , air quality index , climatology , air pollution , greenhouse gas , biomass (ecology) , meteorology , aerosol , chemistry , geography , geology , oceanography , organic chemistry
Significance Understanding the sources of tropospheric ozone is important for effective air quality management and accurate radiative forcing attribution. Biomass burning emits large quantities of ozone precursors to the lower atmosphere. This source can drive regional-scale ozone production, but its impact on global tropospheric ozone is poorly constrained. Here, we present unique global in situ aircraft observations of ozone and continental pollution tracers. Ozone enhancements attributable to biomass burning equal or exceed those from urban emissions, a result that is not predicted by current chemical transport models. These findings represent a potentially major shift in the understanding of the sources of ozone in the lower atmosphere and indicate the need for model developments to improve the representation of global tropospheric ozone.