Comparison of ozone production regimes between two Mexican cities: Guadalajara and Mexico City

Abstract

Ozone concentrations have been increasing in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA) in Mexico. To help devise efficient mitigation measures, we investigated the ozone formation regime by a chemical transport model (CTM) system WRF-CMAQ. The CTM system was validated by field measurement data of ground-level volatile organic compounds (VOC) and vertical profiles of ozone in GMA as well as in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). By conducting CTM simulations with modified emission rates of VOC and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the ozone formation regime in GMA was found to lie between VOC-sensitive and NOx-sensitive regimes. The result is consistent with the relatively large VOC/NOx emission ratio in GMA compared to that in MCMA where the ozone formation regime is in the VOC-sensitive regime.