Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you have safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Environmental Topics
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Report a Violation
  • About EPA
Contact Us

Grantee Research Project Results

2005 Progress Report: Source-Oriented Chemical Transport Model for Primary and Secondary Organic Aerosol

EPA Grant Number: R831082
Title: Source-Oriented Chemical Transport Model for Primary and Secondary Organic Aerosol
Investigators: Kleeman, Michael J. , Griffin, Robert J. , Clegg, Simon
Institution: University of California - Davis , University of New Hampshire
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2006 (Extended to September 30, 2008)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005
Project Amount: $450,000
RFA: Measurement, Modeling, and Analysis Methods for Airborne Carbonaceous Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) (2003) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Particulate Matter , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) model the formation of secondary organic aerosol using a state-of-the-science air quality model; and (2) determine source contributions to primary organic aerosol (POA) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentrations in Los Angeles, the San Joaquin Valley, and St. Louis. In the first phase of the project, we will determine if the treatment of the aerosol as an internal mixture in bulk equilibrium with the surrounding gas phase biases SOA calculations. In the second phase of the project, we will predict source contributions to POA and SOA and compare these predictions to the results of receptor-oriented source apportionment models where possible. Improvements will be made to the mechanisms that predict SOA formation throughout the project so that the most accurate source apportionment can be achieved.

Progress Summary:

The University of California at Davis/California Institute of Technology (UCD/CIT) source-oriented air quality model has been used to predict source contributions to the regional distribution of POA in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) and the San Joaquin Valley. Results are in reasonable agreement with chemical mass balance (CMB) source contribution predictions at locations where measurements are available to support CMB analysis.

The Caltech Atmospheric Chemistry Model (CACM) has been updated to improve the representation of monoaromatic and monoterpene compounds and to implement a more detailed representation of biogenic species. The latest version of CACM was integrated into the UCD/CIT source-oriented air quality model, and comparisons were made to previous mechanisms (SAPRC90) to verify performance during a severe photochemical smog episode in the SoCAB that occurred September 7-9, 1993. The formation of SOA was modeled as a dynamic process where the vapor pressures of semivolatile organics were calculated above each particle in the size distribution. The latest model simulations suggest that the representation of the aerosol as an internal mixture does not affect the total predicted SOA concentration, but the representation of the gas-to-particle conversion process as an equilibrium process may lead to higher SOA predictions than a fully dynamic calculation.

The CACM was expanded so that parent hydrocarbons released from different sources could be tracked through the photochemical mechanism and their contributions to SOA formation could be quantified. Simulations for the SoCAB from September 7-9, 1993, show that transportation is the single largest anthropogenic source of SOA in the region. A second model simulation was conducted for the East Coast of the United States using a version of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. The analysis of these results currently is underway.

Future Activities:

Updates to secondary organic aerosol mechanisms will be integrated into the UCD/CIT source-oriented model framework. Predictions for source contributions to primary and secondary organic aerosol will be made for regions such as the San Joaquin Valley, St. Louis, and the Eastern United States.


Journal Articles on this Report : 7 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views: All 28 publications 13 publications in selected types All 13 journal articles
Publications
Type Citation Project Document Sources
Journal Article Chen J, Griffin RJ. Modeling secondary organic aerosol formation from oxidation of α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene. Atmospheric Environment 2005;39(40):7731-7744. R831082 (2004)
R831082 (2005)
R831082 (2006)
R831082 (2007)
R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Griffin RJ, Dabdub D, Seinfeld JH. Development and initial evaluation of a dynamic species-resolved model for gas phase chemistry and size-resolved gas/particle partitioning associated with secondary organic aerosol formation. Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres 2005;110(D5):D05304 (16 pp.). R831082 (2004)
    R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: Wiley - Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Abstract: Wiley - Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: UC Irvine - Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Held T, Ying Q, Kleeman MJ, Schauer JJ, Fraser MP. A comparison of the UCD/CIT air quality model and the CMB source-receptor model for primary airborne particulate matter. Atmospheric Environment 2005;39(12):2281-2297. R831082 (2004)
    R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Kleeman MJ, Ying Q, Lu J, Mysliwiec MJ, Griffin RJ, Chen J, Clegg S. Source apportionment of secondary organic aerosol during a severe photochemical smog episode. Atmospheric Environment 2007;41(3):576-591. R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Vutukuru S, Griffin RJ, Dabdub D. Simulation and analysis of secondary organic aerosol dynamics in the South Coast Air Basin of California. Journal of Geophysical Research–Atmospheres 2006;111(D10):D10S12 (13 pp.). R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: Wiley-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: Wiley-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: Wiley-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Ying Q, Kleeman MJ. Source contributions to the regional distribution of secondary particulate matter in California. Atmospheric Environment 2006;40(4):736-752. R831082 (2004)
    R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Journal Article Ying Q, Fraser MP, Griffin RJ, Chen J, Kleeman MJ. Verification of a source-oriented externally mixed air quality model during a severe photochemical smog episode. Atmospheric Environment 2007;41(7):1521-1538. R831082 (2005)
    R831082 (2006)
    R831082 (2007)
    R831082 (Final)
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML
    Exit
  • Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract
    Exit
  • Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF
    Exit
  • Supplemental Keywords:

    secondary organic aerosols, source-oriented chemical transport model, source apportionment, inorganic-organic interactions,, RESEARCH, RFA, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, particulate matter, Air Quality, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Air Pollution Effects, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, Monitoring, aerosol particles, health effects, source oriented CMT, atmospheric dispersion models, secondary organic aerosol, particle size, air sampling, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, carbon particles, emissions, monitoring stations, air quality modeling, measurement methods, human exposure, modeling studies, secondary organic aerosols, thermal desorption, particulate matter mass, air quality model, carbon aerosols, aerosol analyzers, particle phase molecular markers, air quality models, atmospheric particulate matter, transport modeling, particle dispersion, human health effects, atmospheric measurements, modeling, monitoring of organic particulate matter

    Progress and Final Reports:

    Original Abstract
  • 2004 Progress Report
  • 2006 Progress Report
  • 2007 Progress Report
  • Final Report
  • Top of Page

    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

    Project Research Results

    • Final Report
    • 2007 Progress Report
    • 2006 Progress Report
    • 2004 Progress Report
    • Original Abstract
    28 publications for this project
    13 journal articles for this project

    Site Navigation

    • Grantee Research Project Results Home
    • Grantee Research Project Results Basic Search
    • Grantee Research Project Results Advanced Search
    • Grantee Research Project Results Fielded Search
    • Publication search
    • EPA Regional Search

    Related Information

    • Search Help
    • About our data collection
    • Research Grants
    • P3: Student Design Competition
    • Research Fellowships
    • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
    Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
    Last updated April 28, 2023
    United States Environmental Protection Agency

    Discover.

    • Accessibility
    • Budget & Performance
    • Contracting
    • EPA www Web Snapshot
    • Grants
    • No FEAR Act Data
    • Plain Writing
    • Privacy
    • Privacy and Security Notice

    Connect.

    • Data.gov
    • Inspector General
    • Jobs
    • Newsroom
    • Open Government
    • Regulations.gov
    • Subscribe
    • USA.gov
    • White House

    Ask.

    • Contact EPA
    • EPA Disclaimers
    • Hotlines
    • FOIA Requests
    • Frequent Questions

    Follow.