Tropospheric Chemistry and Transport

Abstract

Oxidation rates of trace gases in the troposphere depend on species-specific rate coefficients and are predominantly governed by the concentration of the hydroxyl radical (OH), the most important oxidizing molecule in the troposphere. The concentration of OH is in local photochemical steady state; it is, however, dependent on the concentration of trace gases such as ozone, water vapor, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen. Diffusive and advective transport processes influence and change the concentrations of these trace gases. Oxidative and transport time scales are often of similar magnitude, which leads to coupling between tropospheric chemistry and transport.