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Introduction to the November 2020 issue of EM Magazine on Background Ozone
Citation:
Simon, H. AND G. Sarwar. Introduction to the November 2020 issue of EM Magazine on Background Ozone. EM: AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S MAGAZINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS. Air & Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, , 6-7, (2020).
Impact/Purpose:
A key aspect of air quality management is identifying driving sources of air pollution. In the United States (U.S.), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the concept of “background ozone” to describe ozone coming from sources other than U.S. anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors. The EPA has identified provisions in the Clean Air Act that provide regulatory relief to local jurisdictions that are unduly impacted by background ozone. Each of these provisions relies on technical tools to accurately quantify ozone originating from controllable (U.S. anthropogenic) sources versus background ozone. These tools include photochemical models, surface networks of ambient ozone monitors, satellite data, and more specialized measurements such as ozonesondes that provide information on vertical distribution of ozone. This EM issue explores the strengths and limitations of current tools used to quantify background ozone.
Description:
A key aspect of air quality management is identifying driving sources of air pollution. In the United States (U.S.), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the concept of “background ozone” to describe ozone coming from sources other than U.S. anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors. The EPA has identified provisions in the Clean Air Act that provide regulatory relief to local jurisdictions that are unduly impacted by background ozone. Each of these provisions relies on technical tools to accurately quantify ozone originating from controllable (U.S. anthropogenic) sources versus background ozone. These tools include photochemical models, surface networks of ambient ozone monitors, satellite data, and more specialized measurements such as ozonesondes that provide information on vertical distribution of ozone. This EM issue explores the strengths and limitations of current tools used to quantify background ozone.
