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Urban Atmospheric Composition Processes

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Abbreviations

Boundary layer:

The lowermost layer of the atmosphere, in contact with the surface and well mixed. Extending from 100 to 200 m at night, up to 1–2 km during the day.

Mixing ratio:

The fraction of the air which a given species comprises, typically parts per million (106), billion (109) or trillion (1012), by volume.

NOx :

The sum of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

NOx limited:

The ozone production regime in which VOCs are (relatively) plentiful, and ozone production is limited by the availability of NOx.

Photostationary steady state:

The rapid chemical/photochemical balance between a number of reactants, usually applied to NO, NO2 and O3.

PM10 :

Suspended airborne particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less.

Primary pollutants:

Those emitted directly to the atmosphere, typically from mechanical or combustion processes.

Secondary pollutants:

Those formed within the atmosphere by chemical reactions.

Street canyon:

The semi-isolated atmospheric compartment formed by adjacent rows of multi-story buildings.

Temperature inversion:

An increase in temperature with increasing altitude, which usually isolates ground-level air from the overlying atmosphere, resulting in increased (primary) pollutant concentrations.

Transboundary pollution:

The transport of long-lived chemical species, such as O3 and CO, across national boundaries.

VOC:

Volatile Organic Compound, one commonly found overwhelmingly in the gas phase.

VOC limited:

The ozone production regime where NOx is plentiful, and ozone production is limited by the availability of hydrocarbons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Dr. William Bloss

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  1. Dr. William Bloss
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Correspondence to William Bloss .

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  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, Larkspur, CA, USA

    Robert A. Meyers

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Bloss, W. (2012). Urban Atmospheric Composition Processes . In: Meyers, R.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_493

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