Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-484
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-484
22 Feb 2024
 | 22 Feb 2024

Reactive nitrogen in and around the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic US: sources, sinks, and connections with ozone

Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, James H. Crawford, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph

Abstract. This study applies a regional Earth system model (NASA-Unified Weather Research and Forecasting with online chemistry) with updated parameterizations for selected land-air exchange processes and multi-platform observations, to first estimate reactive nitrogen (Nr = oxidized NOy + reduced NHx) emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column densities and surface concentrations, total and speciated Nr dry or/and wet deposition fluxes during 2018–2023 over the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic US most of which belong to nitrogen oxides-limited or transitional chemical regimes. The estimated multi-year Nr concentrations and deposition fluxes are then compared with and related to ozone (O3), in terms of their spatiotemporal variability and key drivers as well as possible ecosystem impacts. Finally, through three sets of case studies, we identify and discuss about 1) the capability of land data assimilation (DA) to reduce the uncertainty in modeled land surface states at daily-to-interannual timescales, that can propagate into atmospheric chemistry fields; 2) the impacts of irrigation on land surface and atmospheric fields as well as pollutants’ ecosystem uptake and impacts; and 3) the impacts of transboundary air pollution during selected extreme events on pollutants’ budgets and ecosystem impacts. With the updated model parameterizations and anthropogenic emission inputs, the eastern US surface O3 modeled by this tool persistently agrees better with observations (i.e., with root-mean-square errors staying within 4–7 ppbv for the individual years’ May-June-July) than those in literature where model errors often exceed 20 ppbv. Based on model calculations, surface O3 correlates more strongly with early afternoon NO2 columns than formaldehyde columns (r=0.54 and 0.40, respectively). The O3 vegetative uptake overall dropped by ~10 % from 2018 to 2023, displaying clearer downward temporal changes than the total Nr deposition due to the declining NOy emission and deposition fluxes competing with the increasing NHx fluxes. It is highlighted that, temporal variability of Nr and O3 concentrations and fluxes on subregional-to-local scales respond to hydrological variability that can be influenced by precipitation and controllable human activities such as irrigation. Deposition processes and biogenic emissions that are highly sensitive to interconnected environmental and plants’ physiological conditions, as well as extra-regional sources (e.g., O3-rich stratospheric air and dense wildfire plumes from upwind regions), have been playing increasingly important roles in controlling pollutants’ budgets in this area as local emissions go down owing to effective emission regulations and COVID lockdowns. To better inform the design of mitigation and adaptation strategies, it is recommended to continue evaluating and improving the model parameterizations and inputs relevant to these processes in seamlessly coupled multiscale Earth system models using laboratory and field experiments in combination with satellite DA which would in turn benefit remote sensing communities.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

03 Feb 2025
Reactive nitrogen in and around the northeastern and mid-Atlantic US: sources, sinks, and connections with ozone
Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1449–1476, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1449-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1449-2025, 2025
Short summary
Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, James H. Crawford, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-484', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-484', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Apr 2024
  • AC1: 'Dr. Owen Cooper's comments and general response to the reviews', Min Huang, 07 Jun 2024
  • AC2: 'Author response to RC1 and RC2', Min Huang, 26 Jul 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-484', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-484', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Apr 2024
  • AC1: 'Dr. Owen Cooper's comments and general response to the reviews', Min Huang, 07 Jun 2024
  • AC2: 'Author response to RC1 and RC2', Min Huang, 26 Jul 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Min Huang on behalf of the Authors (20 Aug 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (22 Aug 2024) by Suvarna Fadnavis
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (15 Sep 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (02 Oct 2024)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Oct 2024) by Suvarna Fadnavis
AR by Min Huang on behalf of the Authors (13 Oct 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (21 Oct 2024) by Suvarna Fadnavis
AR by Min Huang on behalf of the Authors (22 Oct 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (23 Oct 2024) by Suvarna Fadnavis
AR by Min Huang on behalf of the Authors (28 Oct 2024)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

03 Feb 2025
Reactive nitrogen in and around the northeastern and mid-Atlantic US: sources, sinks, and connections with ozone
Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1449–1476, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1449-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1449-2025, 2025
Short summary
Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, James H. Crawford, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph
Min Huang, Gregory R. Carmichael, James H. Crawford, Kevin W. Bowman, Isabelle De Smedt, Andreas Colliander, Michael H. Cosh, Sujay V. Kumar, Alex B. Guenther, Scott J. Janz, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, Niko M. Fedkin, Robert J. Swap, John D. Bolten, and Alicia T. Joseph

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Short summary
This study uses model simulations along with multiplatform, multidisciplinary observations and a range of analysis methods to estimate and understand the distributions, temporal changes, and impacts of reactive nitrogen and ozone over the most populous US region that has undergone significant environmental changes. Deposition, biogenic emissions, and extra-regional sources have been playing increasingly important roles in controlling pollutants’ budgets in this area as local emissions go down.