Dr. David Guarie and collaborators have published a paper in the journal Science Advances titled “High urban NOx triggers a substantial chemical downward flux of ozone”.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone play a central role in atmospheric chemistry and represent a key target for air pollution control. A complete understanding of their cycling is challenging due to competing dynamical and chemical effects.Observation data alone is insufficient to assess and quantify the principal polluting sources (e.g. traffic exhaust emissions). The paper combines observational data with mathematical modeling to develop novel tools of assessment. In particular, we show the conventional methods significantly overestimate primary NOx emissions.
Professor Guarie’s contribution was mathematical/computation, setting up and running dynamic model of atmospheric chemistry and mixing.