Abstract

Chemical constituents are transported from the boundary layer to the upper troposphere via deep convection. Once in the upper troposphere these constituents have longer lifetimes and are readily advected. Vertical transport of these constituents is important because they affect the Earth’s radi... Show moreChemical constituents are transported from the boundary layer to the upper troposphere via deep convection. Once in the upper troposphere these constituents have longer lifetimes and are readily advected. Vertical transport of these constituents is important because they affect the Earth’s radiation budget, the flux of UV radiation to the surface, and the creation of radical species that help in the elimination of certain pollutants. In this paper, carbon monoxide is studied because it is an excellent tracer of convection since its chemical lifetime it is much longer than the lifetime of a thunderstorm. Conversely, ozone was chosen because of its high reactivity and affects both solar and infrared radiation. This research analyzes simulations of constituents from the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry during two storms; one located in northern Alabama and the other one in central Oklahoma. At these locations carbon monoxide and ozone data are used to understand the effects of the convective transport in the upper troposphere. Constituents' distributions are compared before, during and after the passage of each storm. Results present a stronger, high reaching storm in Oklahoma versus a broader and less energetic storm in Alabama. As a result of these differences the Oklahoma storm transports constituents more effectively in to the upper troposphere. This research concludes that not only the intensity of the storm affects concentrations of a constituent in the upper troposphere but also the original concentration at the boundary layer before convection. Show less