The impact of the 2005 Gulf hurricanes on pollution emissions as inferred from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) nitrogen dioxide

Y. Yoshida, B.N. Duncan, C. Retscher, K.E. Pickering, E.A. Celarier, J. Joiner, K.F. Boersma, J.P. Veefkind

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 on pollution emissions in the Gulf of Mexico region was investigated using tropospheric column amounts of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the NASA Aura satellite. Around New Orleans and coastal Mississippi, we estimate that Katrina caused a 35% reduction in NOx emissions on average in the three weeks after landfall. Hurricane Rita caused a significant reduction (20%) in NOx emissions associated with power generation and intensive oil refining activities near the Texas/Louisiana border. We also found a 43% decrease by these two storms over the eastern Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf mainly due to the evacuation of and damage to platforms, rigs, and ports associated with oil and natural gas production.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1443-1448
Number of pages6
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume44
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of the 2005 Gulf hurricanes on pollution emissions as inferred from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) nitrogen dioxide'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this