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Abstract. Here we present measurement results of temporal distributions of nitrous acid (HONO) along with several chemical and meteorologicalparameters during the spring and the late summer of 2019 at Tudor Hill Marine Atmospheric Observatory in Bermuda. Large temporal variations inHONO concentration were controlled by several factors including local pollutant emissions, air mass interaction with the island, andlong-range atmospheric transport of HONO precursors. In polluted plumes emitted from local traffic, power plant, and cruise ship emissions,HONO and nitrogen oxides (NOx) existed at substantial levels (up to 278 pptv and 48 ppbv, respectively),and NOx-related reactions played dominant roles in daytime formation of HONO. The lowest concentration of HONO wasobserved in marine air, with median concentrations at ∼ 3 pptv around solar noon and < 1 pptv during thenighttime. Considerably higher levels of HONO were observed during the day in the low-NOx island-influenced air([NO2] < 1 ppbv), with a median HONO concentration of ∼ 17 pptv. HONO mixing ratios exhibiteddistinct diurnal cycles that peaked around solar noon and were lowest before sunrise, indicating the importance of photochemical processes forHONO formation. In clean marine air, NOx-related reactions contribute to ∼ 21 % of the daytime HONOsource, and the photolysis of particulate nitrate (pNO3) can account for the missing source assuming a moderate enhancement factorof 29 relative to gaseous nitric acid photolysis. In low-NOx island-influenced air, the contribution from bothNOx-related reactions and pNO3 photolysis accounts for only ∼ 48 % of the daytime HONOproduction, and the photochemical processes on surfaces of the island, such as the photolysis of nitric acid on the forest canopy, might contributesignificantly to the daytime HONO production. The concentrations of HONO, NOx, and pNO3 were lowerwhen the site was dominated by the aged marine air in the summer and were higher when the site was dominated by North American air in the spring,reflecting the effects of long-range transport on the reactive nitrogen chemistry in background marine environments. 

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has prompted global governments to take several measures to limit and contain the spread of the novel virus. In the United States (US), most states have imposed a partial to complete lockdown that has led to decreased traffic volumes and reduced vehicle emissions. In this study, we investigate the impacts of the pandemic-related lockdown on air quality in the US using remote sensing products for nitrogen dioxide tropospheric column (NO2), carbon monoxide atmospheric column (CO), tropospheric ozone column (O3), and aerosol optical depth (AOD). We focus on states with distinctive anomalies and high traffic volume, New York (NY), Illinois (IL), Florida (FL), Texas (TX), and California (CA). We evaluate the effectiveness of reduced traffic volume to improve air quality by comparing the significant reductions during the pandemic to the interannual variability (IAV) of a respective reference period for each pollutant. We also investigate and address the potential factors that might have contributed to changes in air quality during the pandemic. As a result of the lockdown and the significant reduction in traffic volume, there have been reductions in CO and NO2. These reductions were, in many instances, compensated by local emissions and, or affected by meteorological conditions. Ozone was reduced by varying magnitude in all cases related to the decrease or increase of NO2 concentrations, depending on ozone photochemical sensitivity. Regarding the policy impacts of this large-scale experiment, our results indicate that reduction of traffic volume during the pandemic was effective in improving air quality in regions where traffic is the main pollution source, such as in New York City and FL, while was not effective in reducing pollution events where other pollution sources dominate, such as in IL, TX and CA. Therefore, policies to reduce other emissions sources (e.g., industrial emissions) should also be considered, especially in places where the reduction in traffic volume was not effective in improving air quality (AQ). 

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element that bonds with organic matter and, when converted to methylmercury, is a potent neurotoxicant. Here we estimate potential future releases of Hg from thawing permafrost for low and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios using a mechanistic model. By 2200, the high emissions scenario shows annual permafrost Hg emissions to the atmosphere comparable to current global anthropogenic emissions. By 2100, simulated Hg concentrations in the Yukon River increase by 14% for the low emissions scenario, but double for the high emissions scenario. Fish Hg concentrations do not exceed United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for the low emissions scenario by 2300, but for the high emissions scenario, fish in the Yukon River exceed EPA guidelines by 2050. Our results indicate minimal impacts to Hg concentrations in water and fish for the low emissions scenario and high impacts for the high emissions scenario.

 

A new resource makes it easier for researchers to explore predictions of how melting permafrost might affect carbon release, wetlands, and river deltas as they evolve and other interacting effects.