SONEX is the AEAP (Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project) DC-8 mission that was conducted in October and November 1997 to characterize chemistry and dynamics in the vicinity of the North Atlantic Flight Corridor. Measurements of NO, NOy, ozone, tracers (CH4, H2O, CO, CO2, aerosols), other reactive nitrogen and oxygenated species were taken from two major deployment sites: Shannon, Ireland, and Bangor, Maine. Flights of a survey nature, as well as maneuvers across fresh aircraft exhaust tracks in the Organized Track System between North America and Europe, were carried out. The dynmical environment of the flights will be described, along with specialized trajectory products used to ensure optimal sampling for various combinations of NOx sources objectives: convection, lightning and stratospheric mixing injection. Cross-track sampling during SONEX revealed elevated levels of NOx, against nonpolluted background over Ireland and more continental- and lightning-affected air masses from Bangor, Maine. Several approaches with SONEX data will be used to estimate the aircraft contribution to nitrogen oxides over the North Atlantic during SONEX.
Symposium on Interdisciplinary Issues in Atmospheric Chemistry