Arctic Tropospheric Ozone Seasonality, Depletion, and Oil Field Influence

Abstract

Near-surface tropospheric ozone depletion events (ODEs) occur in the Polar regions during springtime when ozone reacts with bromine radicals, driving tropospheric ozone mole ratios below 15 ppb (part-per-billion; nmol mol^-1). ODEs alter atmospheric oxidative capacity by influencing halogen radical recycling mechanisms and the photochemical production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Herein, we examined five years of continuous ozone measurements at two coastal Arctic sites: Utqiaġvik, Alaska and ~260 km southeast at Oliktok Point, within the North Slope of Alaska oil fields. These data informed seasonal ozone trends, springtime ozone depletion, and the influence of oil field combustion emissions. Ozone depletion occurred frequently during spring: 35% of the time at Utqiaġvik and 40% at Oliktok Point. ODEs often occurred concurrently at both sites (40–92% of observed ODEs per year), supporting spatially widespread ozone depletion. Observed ozone depletion timescales are consistent with transport of ozone-depleted air masses, suggesting regional active bromine chemistry. Local-scale ozone depletion affecting individual sites occurred less frequently. Ozone depletion typically coincided with calm winds and had no clear dependence on temperature. Consistently lower ozone mole ratios year-round at Oliktok Point, compared to Utqiaġvik, indicate local-scale ozone titration within the stable boundary layer by nitric oxide (NO•) combustion emissions in the Arctic oil fields. Oxidation of combustion-derived volatile organic compounds in the presence of NO_x also likely contributes to ozone formation downwind, for example at Utqiaġvik, pointing to complex local and regional impacts of combustion emissions as Arctic anthropogenic activity increases.