Abstract |
The 1974 Houston Urban Plume Study (HUPS) was undertaken as a preliminary investigation of some of the unresolved features of Houston's air pollution problem. HUPS was intended specifically to gain limited information on the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollutants--particularly, primary and secondary aerosols--in the Houston area as an aid should a later intensive investigation of aerosol character and transport be needed. Aerial measurements were made of the principal pollutants (SO2, NOx, O3, CO, aerosol) of the Houston area. Wind-field measurements were also made. These data were used to estimate pollutant budgets. Values for SO2 and NOx (14 metric tons/hr and 40 metric tons/hr, respectively) were reasonably comparable with values derived from emissions inventories of the Texas Air Control Board (13 and 24 metric tons/hr, respectively). On the basis of the limited sampling period, the industrial area (east of downtown Houston) apparently is the major contributor of primary air pollutants in the Houston area. In the morning hours above the mixed layer, relatively large ozone concentrations (max. 0.2 ppm)--almost certainly of photochemical--origin were found that correlated closely with light scattering aerosol, thus indicating the existence above the mixed layer of strong secondary aerosol sources. |