The Ozone Water-Land Environmental Transition Study (OWLETS): An Innovative Strategy for Understanding Chesapeake Bay...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Coastal regions present unique air quality challenges due to land-water boundaries and limited over-water measurements.
• High ozone levels over water bodies can recirculate inland, impacting populated areas.
• Satellite and forecast models struggle with complex coastal dynamics and rapid pollutant changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present an observation strategy for synchronous land and water pollutant measurements.
• To provide a comprehensive understanding of chemical gradients across coastal boundaries.
• To support environmental management and the development of new remote sensing platforms.

Main Methods:

• Synchronous 'over-land' and 'over-water' pollutant measurements.
• Intensive vertical profiles using ozone lidar and ozonesondes at land and water sites.
• Complementary remote sensing and in-situ observations from various platforms (ground, air, ship).
• Integration with chemical transport simulations like NOAA NAQFC.

Main Results:

• A more complete picture of chemical gradients across coastal boundaries.
• Enhanced characterization of land-water interactions in air quality.
• Validation data for current and future satellite instruments (TEMPO, S5-P TROPOMI).

Conclusions:

• The proposed observation strategy creates a robust land-water interaction observing system.
• This system will improve air quality assessments in coastal transition zones.
• It aids in evaluating and refining satellite-based air quality monitoring technologies.