Effects of Frictionally Retarded Sea Breeze and Synoptic Frontal Passages on Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations in New York City

Temporal changes in the spatial distribution of sulfur dioxide concentrations in New York City resulting from the passage of sea breeze and synoptic fronts were studied using data from the New York University/New York City Urban Air Pollution Data Set. Results show that upwind portions of New York City experience decreasing concentrations with the passage of sea breeze fronts, while downwind portions experience increasing concentrations. Synoptic fronts produce increasing concentrations in the less urbanized areas to the east and west of Manhattan and decreasing concentrations in Manhattan. The one synoptic front which moved extremely slowly showed extreme frictional retardation and produced the opposite effects on the concentration field.