Calculation of sensitivity coefficients for individual airport emissions in the continental unitedstates using CMAQ-DDM3D/PM

Abstract

Previous estimates of aviation contributions to ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter concentrations have either offered domain- and sector-wide estimates or focused on a few airports. Using the decoupled direct method (DDM), an advanced sensitivity analysis module for the CMAQ air quality modeling suite, we calculate per-airport sensitivity coefficients allowing quantification of 66 individual airports’ impact on air quality in the United States. Preliminary results show that these airports, collectively representing about 76 % of aviation activity by fuel burn in the US, are responsible for about 0.04 % of nationwide PM2.5 concentrations; near-airport concentrations are proportionately much higher. Peak annual average contributions from individual airports vary from 0.018 to 0.0001 μg/m3; secondary PM2.5 has effects at distances of up to 700 km downwind while primary PM2.5 affects only the immediate vicinity of the airport. Complete results detailing specific air quality and health impacts of each airport will be presented at the ITM conference in May.