Influence of continental sources on oceanic air composition at the eastern edge of the North Atlantic Ocean, TOR 1992-1995

The atmospheric concentrations of O-3, NMHCs, PAN and NOx were measured at the TOR station in Porspoder (Brittany, France) from 1992 to 1995. The results from April 1992 to December 1994 are reported here. In order to study the behaviour of trace gases in the air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, the origin of these air masses was characterised by the analysis of the five-day back-trajectories reaching 950 mbar at Porspoder. Three kinds of oceanic air masses are considered, depending on their origin: North Atlantic northern and southern latitudes and North American continent. It appears that the oceanic high-latitude troposphere was strongly influenced by continental emissions, which in turn impacted the median latitude troposphere during polar outflow events. A greater accumulation of anthropogenic compounds in the Arctic sector was calculated and may be at the origin of the high oxidant levels measured in spring in this same sector. The influence of north American emissions on the European coast was also studied and seems to reach a maximum in spring. Long-range transport of long-lived species was observed throughout the year, but evidence for winter transport of more reactive species, such as ethene, is also shown. Meteorological parameters and local photochemistry appear to play an important role in the distribution of the pollutants over the North Atlantic Ocean throughout the year. Further investigations are needed to give more complete information about the origin, formation and destruction of the secondary pollutants.