Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effect Of Petrochemical Industrial Emissions Of Reactive Alkenes And NoX On Tropospheric Ozone Formation In Houston, Texas, T. B. Ryerson, M. Trainer, W. M. Angevine, C. A. Brock, R. W. Dissly, F. C. Fehsenfeld, G. J. Frost, P. D. Goldan, J. S. Holloway, G. Hübler, R. O. Jakoubek, W. C. Kuster, J. A. Neuman, D. K. Nicks, D. D. Parrish, J. M. Roberts, D. T. Sueper, E. L. Atlas, Stephen G. Donnelly Ph.D., F. Flocke, A. Fried, W. T. Potter, S. Schauffler, V. Stroud, A. J. Weinheimer, B. P. Wert, C. Wiedinmyer, R. J. Alvarez, R. M. Banta, L. S. Darby, C. J. Senff

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Petrochemical industrial facilities can emit large amounts of highly reactive hydrocarbons and NOx to the atmosphere; in the summertime, such colocated emissions are shown to consistently result in rapid and efficient ozone (O3) formation downwind. Airborne measurements show initial hydrocarbon reactivity in petrochemical source plumes in the Houston, TX, metropolitan area is primarily due to routine emissions of the alkenes propene and ethene. Reported emissions of these highly reactive compounds are substantially lower than emissions inferred from measurements in the plumes from these sources. Net O3 formation rates and yields per NOx molecule oxidized in these petrochemical industrial source plumes …