| My investigation improves our understanding of the atmospheric transport of ground-level ozone (O3)---a reactive oxidant---by better describing its climatology, particularly for the state of Delaware and adjacent environs in the mid-Atlantic region. My primary objective is to show how climatic factors influence the spread and transport of ozone in Delaware and its neighboring states.; Hourly weather data were obtained from the Northeast Regional Climate Center, which achieves weather data from National Weather Service weather stations, and active cooperative network sites in the Northeast. Hourly pollution (ozone) data were extracted from the EPA's Aerometric Information Retrieval System database. These data were collected at air-quality monitoring stations across the Northeast region---part of the EPA's Region III.; Statistical and graphical techniques were used to assess ozone and related weather data. Missing hourly values were interpolated, often from sparse observations. Station values were interpolated to an evenly spaced grid using a modified version of Cressman's interpolator. Time-series plots were used to show major temporal patterns and variability. Maps of the variables were used to display spatial patterns and variability. Regression procedures and principal component analysis were performed and evaluated to determine which independent (climate) variables make the greatest contribution to "explaining" ozone concentrations.; Findings suggest that advection is a major contributor to ozone concentrations over the mid-Atlantic region. Ozone formation and accumulation depend, in part, on the climate variables, and the dependence can be linear or non linear. There also may be a threshold air temperature, dew-point temperature, and/or relative humidity value, above which ozone levels decline. The "best" subset of climate variables in a statistical, ozone-prediction model includes dew point temperature, cloud height, wind speed, and wind direction. |
