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Sensitivity-Based VOC Reactivity Calculation
Citation:
Napelenok, S. AND D. Luecken. Sensitivity-Based VOC Reactivity Calculation. Chapter 38, Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XXIV. Springer International Publishing AG, Cham (ZG), Switzerland, , 233-237, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s Atmospheric Modeling 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:
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) reactivity scales are used to compare the ozone-forming potentials of various compounds. The comparison allows for substitution of compounds to lessen formation of ozone from paints, solvents, and other products. Current reactivity scales for VOC compounds were first developed using 1-D trajectory/box models for short pollution episodes several decades ago. In this study, they are updated using the 3-D air quality model CMAQ instrumented with DDM-3D. DDM-3D sensitivities are used to update relative reactivity metrics of a number of VOCs over more meaningful timescales. Using sensitivity calculation in the context of an air quality model for reactivity calculations avoids the issues of trajectory assumptions inherent in the 1-D calculations and allow for calculation of regional representative metrics.
