Simulating secondary organic aerosol from missing diesel-related intermediate-volatility organic compound emissions during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign

TY - JOUR

T1 - Simulating secondary organic aerosol from missing diesel-related intermediate-volatility organic compound emissions during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign

AU - Ots, Riinu

AU - Young, Dominique E.

AU - Vieno, Massimo

AU - Xu, Lu

AU - Dunmore, Rachel E.

AU - Allan, James D.

AU - Coe, Hugh

AU - Williams, Leah R.

AU - Herndon, Scott C.

AU - Ng, Nga L.

AU - Hamilton, Jacqueline F.

AU - Bergström, Robert

AU - Di Marco, Chiara

AU - Nemitz, Eiko

AU - Mackenzie, Ian A.

AU - Kuenen, Jeroen J P

AU - Green, David C.

AU - Reis, Stefan

AU - Heal, Mathew R.

N1 - © Authors 2016

PY - 2016/5/27

Y1 - 2016/5/27

N2 - We present high-resolution (5g kmg × g 5g km) atmospheric chemical transport model (ACTM) simulations of the impact of newly estimated traffic-related emissions on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation over the UK for 2012. Our simulations include additional diesel-related intermediate-volatility organic compound (IVOC) emissions derived directly from comprehensive field measurements at an urban background site in London during the 2012 Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign. Our IVOC emissions are added proportionally to VOC emissions, as opposed to proportionally to primary organic aerosol (POA) as has been done by previous ACTM studies seeking to simulate the effects of these missing emissions. Modelled concentrations are evaluated against hourly and daily measurements of organic aerosol (OA) components derived from aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements also made during the ClearfLo campaign at three sites in the London area. According to the model simulations, diesel-related IVOCs can explain on average ∼30g % of the annual SOA in and around London. Furthermore, the 90th percentile of modelled daily SOA concentrations for the whole year is 3.8g μg-3, constituting a notable addition to total particulate matter. More measurements of these precursors (currently not included in official emissions inventories) is recommended. During the period of concurrent measurements, SOA concentrations at the Detling rural background location east of London were greater than at the central London location. The model shows that this was caused by an intense pollution plume with a strong gradient of imported SOA passing over the rural location. This demonstrates the value of modelling for supporting the interpretation of measurements taken at different sites or for short durations.

AB - We present high-resolution (5g kmg × g 5g km) atmospheric chemical transport model (ACTM) simulations of the impact of newly estimated traffic-related emissions on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation over the UK for 2012. Our simulations include additional diesel-related intermediate-volatility organic compound (IVOC) emissions derived directly from comprehensive field measurements at an urban background site in London during the 2012 Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign. Our IVOC emissions are added proportionally to VOC emissions, as opposed to proportionally to primary organic aerosol (POA) as has been done by previous ACTM studies seeking to simulate the effects of these missing emissions. Modelled concentrations are evaluated against hourly and daily measurements of organic aerosol (OA) components derived from aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements also made during the ClearfLo campaign at three sites in the London area. According to the model simulations, diesel-related IVOCs can explain on average ∼30g % of the annual SOA in and around London. Furthermore, the 90th percentile of modelled daily SOA concentrations for the whole year is 3.8g μg-3, constituting a notable addition to total particulate matter. More measurements of these precursors (currently not included in official emissions inventories) is recommended. During the period of concurrent measurements, SOA concentrations at the Detling rural background location east of London were greater than at the central London location. The model shows that this was caused by an intense pollution plume with a strong gradient of imported SOA passing over the rural location. This demonstrates the value of modelling for supporting the interpretation of measurements taken at different sites or for short durations.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84971556202&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5194/acp-16-6453-2016

DO - 10.5194/acp-16-6453-2016

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84971556202

SN - 1680-7316

VL - 16

SP - 6453

EP - 6473

JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

JF - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

IS - 10

ER -