A three-dimensional model study of the impact of AVOC and BVOC emissions on ozone in an urban area of the eastern Spain

Abstract

This study concentrated on the effects of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) emissions on ozone (O3) in an area of the Eastern Spain on June 12, 1997, a day characterised by sea breeze. Simulation of meteorology was performed with the three-dimensional model ADREA-I. Comparisons of the model results with observations have revealed overall a good agreement in temperature and wind velocity. Two runs were performed with UAM-IV for the photochemical calculations. The first simulated the effects of the anthropogenic emissions only (run A) and the second the combined effects of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, (run B). Comparisons of the model O3 concentrations with measurements showed a general agreement with the experimental data. Discrepancies between the calculated results and the observations during the early morning hours could be attributed to inaccuracies in nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the anthropogenic emissions inventory. Comparisons between runs A and B yielded differences up to 30% in the morning, over inland areas. It was deduced that the inclusion of BVOC in total emissions could result in an increase or decrease of tropospheric O3, depending on the available amounts of anthropogenic emissions.