Photochemical air pollution: transport from the New York City area into Connecticut and Massachusetts

Abstract

Photochemical air pollution resulting from primary emissions in the New York City metropolitan area is transported by prevailing winds on a 300-kilometer northeast trajectory through Connecticut and as far as northeastern Massachusetts. As a result, southwestern Connecticut has the highest ozone concentrations in the region and there is a substantial increase in ozone concentrations in Massachusetts. The ozone concentrations of air entering the New York City metropolitan area are often already above the federal standard of 0.08 part per million, but the concentration distribution is well below concentration distributions at downwind sites in Connecticut.