Replication Data for: River Winds and Pollutant Recirculation in the Amazon

Local atmospheric circulations induced by wide rivers in Amazonia influence the transport of urban, fire, and forest emissions. Herein, a copter-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated from a boat collected daytime vertical profiles of meteorological variables and chemical concentrations up to 500 m. The measurements were conducted in the central Amazon during the 2019 dry season. Cluster analysis showed tight coupling between the meteorological variables and the local atmospheric circulation. A river breeze from surface to 300 m occurred for 23% (13 of 56) of the profiles whereas it was completely absent for 21% of the profiles (12 of 56). The river breeze was fully developed for synoptic scale wind speeds below 4 m s 1. The UAV also collected vertical profiles of carbon monoxide (CO) and total oxidants (Ox, defined as O3 + NO2), which were significantly altered by the river breeze. Under some conditions, the river breeze can re-circulate pollution back toward the riverbank and its point of origin. There are significant implications in respect to air quality for the many human settlements along rivers throughout Amazonia.