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ANALYSIS OF AIR QUALITY DATA NEAR ROADWAYS USING A DISPERSION MODEL
Citation:
VENKATRAM, A., V. ISAKOV, E. D. THOMA, AND R. W. BALDAUF. ANALYSIS OF AIR QUALITY DATA NEAR ROADWAYS USING A DISPERSION MODEL. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 41(40):9481-9497, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform public
Description:
A dispersion model was used to analyze measurements made during a field study conducted by the U.S. EPA in July and August 2006, to estimate the impact of highway emissions on air quality at distances of tens of meters from an eight-lane highway. The air quality measurements consisted of long-path optical measurements of NO at distances of 7.6 m and 17.6 m from the edge of the highway. Sonic anemometers were used to measure wind speed and turbulent velocities at 6 m and 20 m from the highway. Traffic flow rates were monitord using traffic survellance cameras. The analysis of air quality and meterological observations resulted in plausible estimates of on-road emissions factors for NO. The performance of the dispersion model in explaining NO observations suggests that appropriate air quality measurements, coupled with dispersion modeling, can be used to estimate on-road emission factors of other species, such as VOCs.
