Analysis of Mesoscale Airflow Patterns in the South-Central Coast Air Basin during the SCCCAMP 1985 Intensive Measurement Periods

Abstract

An analysis of the mesoscale airflow patterns in the south-central coast air basin (SCCAB) was performed using data collected during the 1985 South-Central Coast Cooperative Aerometric Monitoring Program (SCCCAMP). Airflow within the SCCAB is strongly influenced by the diurnal sea-breeze/land-breeze cycle and by slope flows that develop along the steep terrain. Mesoscale airflow features observed during the four intensive monitoring periods include eddies along the coast and over the Santa Barbara Channel. An analysis of the transport patterns indicated that both recirculation of pollutants within the SCCAB and transport of pollutants from the south coast air basin (SOCAB) contributed to the observed high ozone concentrations on the intensive monitoring days.