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1994
Journal Article
Title
Aircraft measurement of pollutant fluxes across the borders of Eastern Germany
Abstract
We performed a research flight along the western and eastern border of eastern Germany to estimate the transboundary flux of pollution gases during a synoptic weather situation with westerly to southwesterly winds. A dolphin flight pattern was applied to sample the boundary layer as representatively as possible while screening the vertical structure of the lower troposphere. Transboundary flux intensities were calculated using concentrations and wind vectors as measured by the aircraft. A detailed error analysis was performed to estimate two types of uncertainties in the transboundary flux measurement. The error originating from inaccuracies in meteorological and chemical measurements was estimated to be in the range 15-35 per cent (one standard deviation). The error originating from the unrepresentativeness of the data collected on the flight path is estimated to be smaller by factors between 2 and 3. Transboundary fluxes at the eastern side of eastern Germany were different from thos e at the western side at a high level of confidence (> 95 per cent). Transboundary fluxes were greater on the eastern side by a factor of 12 for SO2 and by a factor of 2.9 for NO(y). For SO2, the transboundary fluxes in the Ekman layer (EL) and inversion layer (IL) were greater than those of lower free troposphere (LET) on both sides, whereas for NO(y) and O3 higher LFT wind speeds compensated higher EL and IL mixing ratios. A compilation of all available data on pollutant gas export from eastern Germany reveals a very heterogeneous data set. Computed average fluxes, however, show good agreement with estimates of pollutant gas emissions from eastern Germany, based on energy consumption.