Formation of Lake Breezes along the Western Shore of Lake Michigan and Their Impact on Air Quality

Lake breezes emerge due to variations in temperature between a lake's surface and the adjacent coastal or land regions. These temperature differences prompt an air current that flows from the lake toward the land, driven by disparities in air density and pressure. During the NOAA AEROMMA 2023 campaign, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) research team undertook measurements to characterize Lake Breeze phenomena along the western coast of Lake Michigan. Through the utilization of balloons, a Doppler wind LiDAR, drones, and a TOLNet ozone LiDAR, we examined the characteristics of lake breeze conditions and their subsequent impact on air quality. Our findings reveal that pollutants emitted over Lake Michigan from Chicago remain confined within the marine boundary layer until being transported inland by a lake breeze. In certain instances, the lake breeze transport was demonstrated to significantly degrade air quality for coastal regions. Further investigations are needed to understand the impacts of lake breeze circulation dynamics and the resulting changes in air quality.