Relationship between ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO) in different flow regimes at UMBS.

Abstract

A clear determination of the relationship between ozone and CO can improve our understanding of the formation and loss of ozone, as related to changing atmospheric composition. CO in this way, a tracer of anthropogenic pollution, is used to estimate the amount of ozone that is produced as a result of anthropogenic sources. 4.5 years of data was examined and analyzed to see the relationship between ozone and CO at UMBS, and the effects of the source regions of the wind. Weather, path of air mass, as well as possible anthropogenic emissions such as fire must be considered. The relationship between ozone and CO con be used to determine the potential for oxidant production. When ozone and CO are highly positively correlated, we can conclude that there is a greater oxidant production with increasing CO concentration, and when they are highly negatively correlated, air masses containing increasing CO concentrations are less capable of oxidant production. A complication that needs to be considered is that CO and ozone are not always perfectly correlated because ozone can deposit out and can stick to surfaces, and it can thus react with other compounds and therefore, their relationship is likely to vary.