Cloud-Resolved Chemistry Simulations of Deep Convective Storms Observed during the DISCOVER-AQ Campaign

Deep convection acts to vent boundary layer air into the free troposphere, in many cases removing pollutants from the surface and decreasing the 8-hr average surface ozone concentration. In some cases, cleaner air may be transported downward into the boundary layer. Additionally, convection is a significant mechanism for altering trace gas and meteorological profile shapes. Since realistic model profile shapes are essential for accurate satellite retrievals of trace gas column amounts, simulation of deep convection plays a crucial role in air quality modeling and forecasting. This presentation will focus on thunderstorms observed during NASA's DISCOVER-AQ mission and the effects they had on air quality. Presented here are cases from the July 2011 Maryland and the July 2014 Colorado deployments, where deep convection either acted to temporarily reduce surface ozone concentration or resulted in termination of the high ozone event. Cloud-resolved simulations of DISCOVER-AQ storms will be conducted using WRF-Chem at 1 km or finer resolution to assess the influence of deep convection on surface composition and lower tropospheric vertical profiles. These simulations will be evaluated through comparisons with aircraft, tethered balloon, and surface observations collected during the DISCOVER-AQ deployments.