The effect of variability in industrial emissions on ozone formation in Houston, Texas

Webster, M; Nam, J; Kimura, Y; Jeffries, H; Vizuete, W; Allen, DT

HERO ID

104266

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2007

Language

English

HERO ID 104266
In Press No
Year 2007
Title The effect of variability in industrial emissions on ozone formation in Houston, Texas
Authors Webster, M; Nam, J; Kimura, Y; Jeffries, H; Vizuete, W; Allen, DT
Journal Atmospheric Environment
Volume 41
Issue 40
Page Numbers 9580-9593
Abstract Ambient observations have indicated that high concentrations of ozone observed in the Houston/Galveston area are associated with plumes of highly reactive hydrocarbons, mixed with NOx, from industrial facilities. Ambient observations and industrial process data, such as mass flow rates for industrial flares, indicate that the VOCs associated with these industrial emissions can have significant temporal variability. To characterize the effect of this variability in emissions on ozone formation in Houston, data were collected on the temporal variability of industrial emissions or emission surrogates (e.g., mass flow rates to flares). The observed emissions variability was then used to construct regionwide emission inventories with variable industrial emissions, and the impacts of the variability on ozone formation were examined for two types of meteorological conditions, both of which lead to high ozone concentrations in Houston. The air quality simulations indicate that variability in industrial emissions has the potential to cause increases and decreases of 10–52 ppb (13–316%), or more, in ozone concentration. The largest of these differences are restricted to regions of 10–20 km2, but the variability also has the potential to increase regionwide maxima in ozone concentrations by up to 12 ppb.
Doi 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.08.052
Wosid WOS:000252355700026
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Photochemical grid model; Highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOCs); Ozone; Uncertainty analysis; Monte Carlo simulation
Is Peer Review Yes
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