Concentrations of atmospheric NO and NO2: 2012 Arctic and Northwestern Pacific Oceans

Atmospheric NOx (NO+NO2) predominantly comes from pollution driven by human-activities and biomass burning, and plays an critical precursor of O3 formation in the troposphere. Satellite observations show high concentration in the east Asian countries, in particular near China, Korea, and Japan. We investigated the impact of such human activities to the clean marine boundary layer by measuring NOx concentration from Korean peninsular to Alaska, U.S.A, along the west boundary of the North Pacific. Further sailing to the Chukchi Sea, we had opportunity to monitor NOx concentration along the cruise track of R/V Araon for one month. To investigate the air quality and influence of pollution driven by human activities in the east Asian countries and to monitor NOx concentration in the marine boundary layer over the North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean.