Source Emissions and the Vertically Integrated Mass Flux of Sulfur Dioxide Across the New York City Area

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide concentrations (in ambient air), obtained from helicopter soundings and traverses, together with wind data from pibals, were used in a kinematic box model to determine hourly average three-dimensional fluxes of SO2 for the New York City area. Continuous dry-bulb temperature and pressure height records were obtained concurrently and utilized in the analysis and interpretation of the flux data. The SO2 fluxes were compared to degree-day-dependent emissions from residential, industrial and utility sources. Results indicate that the vertical structure of the fluxes is related to diurnal variations of the temperature lapse rates. Furthermore, the emission rates determined from the measurement of flux in 13 tests agree with those derived from the New York City sulfur dioxide emission inventory within limits which have been considered acceptable for use in air pollution modeling.