Comparison of weekly cycle of NO 2 satellite retrievals and NO x emission inventories for the continental United States

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Vol. 114; no. D5
• Main Authors: Kaynak, B., Hu, Y., Martin, R. V., Sioris, C. E., Russell, A. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 16-03-2009
• ISSN: 0148-0227
• DOI: 10.1029/2008JD010714

Spatially resolved weekly NO
2
variations are obtained from 2003 to 2005 Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY) tropospheric NO
2
columns for three different types of regions: urban, rural, and rural‐point (rural with significant electricity generation unit (EGU) emissions). Regions are compared for magnitudes and weekly profiles. Rural regions do not show any weekly pattern, whereas urban areas show a distinct decrease on the weekends. Rural regions with EGUs show a slight decrease on Sundays. When compared with estimated mobile and stationary nitrogen oxides (NO
x
) emissions from the year 2004 for seven cities, the satellite data have greater variation during weekdays (Monday–Friday). Overall comparisons show that SCIAMACHY‐derived NO
2
correlate well with estimated NO
x
emissions for urban and rural but less for rural‐point regions.