Urban Surface Ozone Investigation By: Jessica Guerrero Mentors: Dr. Shermane A. Austin, Medgar Evers College, Dr. Leon P. Johnson, Aaron Jones, Deonca Renee, Dr. John Merrill:University of Rhode Island

Methods In order to take surface ozone samples, a sample test strip must be exposed for approximately 1 hour. After an hour is up, an instrument named the “Zikua” is used to determine the amount of surface ozone in parts per billion (PPB). While the sample strip is collecting surface ozone, data including cloud type and coverage, wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature, and start and end time must be collected.

Surface Ozone Data The chart above is all of the data that should be collected in order to successfully analyze surface ozone concentration. The graph to the left is a comparison between surface ozone concentration and temperature. On average there is a direct relationship between temperature and surface ozone. Generally, as temperature increases, surface ozone increases.

Results Surface ozone samples from Paradox, New York were taken in order to compare the different amounts of surface ozone concentration between a rural region, and an urban region. Surface ozone concentration levels ranged from 17 to 38 parts per billion (PPB) in Paradox, New York. These samples were taken over a three day weekend and used to illustrate the differentiation between a rural area, and an urban one. Surface ozone concentration ranged from 73 to 94 parts per billion (PPB) in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York. These samples, as seen on the chart, were taken over a course of approximately two weeks.

Conclusion “Good ozone” is considered the layer in the stratosphere that protects the Earth from harmful UV rays, where as “bad ozone” is on the surface of the Earth and causes respiratory infection, hardening of the arteries, and has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. When it is generally warm outside, there is more surface ozone in the air. There is more surface ozone in an urban area, then there is in a rural region.

Special thanks to student coordinator Aaron Jones, Dr. Shermane Austin, Dr. Leon P. Johnson, Medgar Evers College, High School Teacher Deonca Renee, Fellow Researchers Antonio W. and Ernst E., NASA, Frank Scalzo, City College of New York, Dr. John Merrill Acknowledgements : NYCRI, New York State Space Grant, Vermont State Space Grant, NASA Aura E/PO Program References :