<p>The transport of tropospheric ozone, ozone precursors, carbon monoxide, etc from Asia to North America is an active area of research (see <a href="http://www.atmos.washington.edu/jaffegroup/publications/2011AmbroseJaffeHighO3.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">J.L. Ambrose, et al., 2011</a>)  These types of events occur rather dramatically in the springtime, apparently due to meteorological conditions when westerly winds are strong, which carries polluted air across the Pacific.  Stratospheric ozone events can be differentiated because they have low moisture and no associated increase in carbon monoxide.  </p>

<p>What meteorological factors contribute to the increased transport of Asia-generated air pollution to North America? What occurs meteorologically in the springtime that leads to more westerly transport than any other season?  The analyses I've seen say that transport can occur anywhere from 2.5 km to 8 km above sea level.  </p>

<p>Are there factors that could cause temporal or spatial shifts in how these types of pollution transport events are recepted in North America?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mrDUF.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mrDUF.gif" alt="M. Lin et al., 2011 image"></a></p>

<p>Image from <a href="http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/news-app/story.53/title.transport-of-asian-ozone-pollution-into-surface-air-over-the-western-united-states-in-spring/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">M. Lin et al., 2011 publication</a> showing 
carbon monoxide crossing the Pacific Ocean caught by Aqua/AIRS, (10<sup>18</sup> molecules / cm<sup>2</sup>)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-31T19:18:34.750Z
I'm not sure I understand your question
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-29T22:18:16.927Z
this question isn't about aerosols
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-07T15:28:48.973Z
Flow is from west (Asia) to east (America).
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-08T18:02:37.607Z
@gansub there are still events that occur other times of the year... but my understanding is that late spring is when the transport is strongest due to meteorological conditions. I can find some other references if you think that would help.
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T01:00:44.953Z
Typically anywhere between 2.5km to 8km
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T14:32:49.980Z
yes, but not near the UT/LS zone.
f.thorpe
<meteorology><climate><air-pollution><pacific>
What meteorological factors contribute to springtime Trans-Pacific air-pollution events?
f.thorpe
# What meteorological factors contribute to springtime Trans-Pacific air-pollution events?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-26)

The transport of tropospheric ozone, ozone precursors, carbon monoxide, etc from Asia to North America is an active area of research (see [J.L. Ambrose, et al., 2011](http://www.atmos.washington.edu/jaffegroup/publications/2011AmbroseJaffeHighO3.pdf)) These types of events occur rather dramatically in the springtime, apparently due to meteorological conditions when westerly winds are strong, which carries polluted air across the Pacific. Stratospheric ozone events can be differentiated because they have low moisture and no associated increase in carbon monoxide.

What meteorological factors contribute to the increased transport of Asia-generated air pollution to North America? What occurs meteorologically in the springtime that leads to more westerly transport than any other season? The analyses I've seen say that transport can occur anywhere from 2.5 km to 8 km above sea level.

Are there factors that could cause temporal or spatial shifts in how these types of pollution transport events are recepted in North America?

[![M. Lin et al., 2011 image](https://i.sstatic.net/mrDUF.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/mrDUF.gif)

Image from [M. Lin et al., 2011 publication](http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/news-app/story.53/title.transport-of-asian-ozone-pollution-into-surface-air-over-the-western-united-states-in-spring/) showing
carbon monoxide crossing the Pacific Ocean caught by Aqua/AIRS, (1018 molecules / cm2)

**Tags:** meteorology, climate, air-pollution, pacific

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Flow is from west (Asia) to east (America).  
> **username_0**: @gansub there are still events that occur other times of the year... but my understanding is that late spring is when the transport is strongest due to meteorological conditions. I can find some other references if you think that would help.  
> **username_0**: Typically anywhere between 2.5km to 8km  
> **username_0**: yes, but not near the UT/LS zone.  
> **username_0**: I'm not sure I understand your question  
> **username_0**: this question isn't about aerosols  

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## 0 answers

