We examined the past 23 years of ground-level O3 data and selected meteorological parameters in Houston, Texas, which historically has been one of the most polluted cities in the United States. Both 1-h and 8-h O3 exceedances have been reduced significantly down to single digit yearly occurrences. We also found that the frequency of southerly flow has increased by a factor of ~2.5 over the period 1990–2013, likely suppressing O3 photochemistry and leading to a “cleaner” Houston environment. The sea breeze was enhanced greatly from 1990 to 2013 due to increasing land surface temperatures, increased pressure gradients, and slightly stronger on-shore winds. These patterns driven by climate change produce a strengthening of the sea breeze, which should be a general result at locations worldwide.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/influence-climate-change-and-meteorological-factors-houston%E2%80%99s-air-pollution-ozone
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/lei-liu
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/robert-talbot
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/xin-lan
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/atmosphere
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/air-pollution
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/united-states-america-us
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ozone
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/urban-air-quality