You are here:
Examining the Impact of an Updated Toluene Mechanism on Air Quality in the Eastern US
Citation:
SARWAR, G., W. APPEL, R. MATHUR, AND K. L. SCHERE. Examining the Impact of an Updated Toluene Mechanism on Air Quality in the Eastern US. Chapter 38, Douw G. Steyn & Silvia Trini Castelli (ed.), Air Pollution Modeling and its Application, XXI . Springer, New York, NY, Series C:227-231, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL′s) Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division (AMAD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. AMAD′s research program is engaged in developing and evaluating predictive atmospheric models on all spatial and temporal scales for forecasting the Nation′s air quality and for assessing changes in air quality and air pollutant exposures, as affected by changes in ecosystem management and regulatory decisions. AMAD is responsible for providing a sound scientific and technical basis for regulatory policies based on air quality models to improve ambient air quality. The models developed by AMAD are being used by EPA, NOAA, and the air pollution community in understanding and forecasting not only the magnitude of the air pollution problem, but also in developing emission control policies and regulations for air quality improvements.
Description:
Model simulations were performed using the CB05 chemical mechanism containing the base and an updated toluene mechanisms for the eastern US. The updated toluene mechanism increased monthly mean 8-hr ozone by 1.0-2.0 ppbv in urban areas of Chicago, the northeast US, Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati compared to those with the base toluene chemistry. The updated chemistry reduced mean bias and root mean square error in ozone predictions when compared with observations greater than 85 ppbv and increased mean secondary organic aerosol from toluene by a maximum of 4%.