Spatial Distribution and Temporal Variation in Ambient Ozone and Its Associated NOx in the Atmosphere of Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Concentrations of ambient ozone (O 3 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) were measured continuously for a period of 12 months in the city of Jeddah from December 2011 to December 2012. Meteorological parameters, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity were also monitored. Concentrations of ground O 3 were found to be highly dependent on the NO x diurnal cycle and wind speed. Nitrogen oxides were found to exceed air quality standards, especially in industrial sites, while O 3 concentrations were found to exceed 40 ppb, averaged over 1 h, on more than 24% of the measured days in the rural sites. Furthermore, they exceeded 30% in all other areas (i.e., the urban ones).O 3 and NO x were inversely related. The highest average NO x concentration (96 ppb) occurred in a rural area downwind of a desalination plant, while the average O 3 concentration peaked in a rural area upwind of a desalination plant, reaching 63.5 ppb, although it also reached 72.6 in another rural area, and we consider this latter result as the background figure in the present study. The seasonal variations of O 3 were more distinct than those of NO x . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report providing comprehensive background information on air quality in an arid area of the developing world.

Real-Time Measurements of Ozone and UV Radiation during Pyrotechnic Displays

“…The most likely explanation for such a variation is that ozone was not formed from the reactions of NO x and VOCs, and that once O 3 was generated, it reacted with NO emitted by the successive bursts of firecrackers to produce NO 2 . In fact, the observed profile does not match with the typical diurnal pattern for ozone and NO x in polluted urban areas (Xu et al, 2011;Melkonyan and Kuttler, 2012;Hassan et al, 2013). Fig.…”

Modelling Ozone-Temperature Slope under Atypically High Temperature in Arid Climatic Conditions of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

“…This might indicate that in arid climatic conditions like in Makkah, ozone levels decline in extremely hot months, which requires further analysis (discussed below). Temporal variations of ground level ozone have been characterised by several researchers (e.g., Coyle et al, 2002;Jenkin et al, 2002;Jenkin, 2008;AQEG, 2009;Munir et al, 2012;Hassan et al, 2013), and are therefore not discussed in further detail here. Rather, here the aim is to highlight that ozone and temperature cycles have different trends and use this as a starting point for an analysis of how the observed relations between ozone and temperature vary in different months.…”

Distribution and Temporal Behaviour of O3 and NO2 Near Selected Schools in Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang and Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia

“…(Jenkin & Clemitshaw 2000). Hassan et al (2013) stated that downwind effect may also significantly affect O 3 concentrations. The movement of gaseous pollutants, particularly O 3 precursors, from one area to another often results in high levels of O 3 concentration because of photochemical reaction.…”