Grantee Research Project Results

Integrating Observations and Modeling in Ozone Management Efforts

EPA Grant Number: R825260
Title: Integrating Observations and Modeling in Ozone Management Efforts
Investigators: Rao, S. Trivikrama
Institution: The State University of New York
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 15, 1996 through November 14, 1999 (Extended to November 14, 2000)
Project Amount: $367,697
RFA: Air Quality (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air

Description:

It is well known that stochastic and seasonal variations in meteorological conditions have a significant influence on ambient ozone levels. Although a meteorologically-weighted measure of ozone may alleviate some of the difficulties associated with the interpretation of ambient ozone data, more statistically-robust methods are needed for designing effective ozone management plans based on techniques that can integrate observation analysis and regional-scale photochemical modeling analysis and for detecting changes in ozone concentrations resulting from regulatory controls in the presence of meteorological fluctuations. The objectives of the proposed study are as follows:

Develop robust statistical methods for filtering out the influence of meteorology on ambient ozone concentrations by separating the various scale of motion embedded in the time series of meteorological and air quality data.
Examine the relationship between the time series of ozone concentrations and time series of precursor (VOC and NOx) concentrations using spectral decomposition methods.
Develop an integrated approach for combining information in the observations and regional-scale photochemical models (seasonal versus episodic applications of SAQM and UAM-V) for use in ozone management.
Examine the spatial and temporal scales of ozone.
Develop methods to detect changes in ozone due to changes in emissions resulting from the regulatory initiatives, and to determine trends in meteorologically-independent ozone for the 1-hr, 8-hr, and other averaging times of interest.

Thus, this study is aimed at improving our understanding of the ozone problem in the eastern United States and providing information to the environmental managers for making economically important decisions about the ozone non-attainment problem.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 33 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 15 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

air, ambient air, atmosphere, ozone, tropospheric, exposure, oxidants, nitrogen oxides, environmental chemistry, modeling, Northeast, New York, NY, Region 2, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, tropospheric ozone, Atmospheric Sciences, phototchemical modeling, ambient ozone data, VOCs, weather factors, air quality data, ozone abatement, environmental policy, meteorological fluctuations, ozone management efforts, regulations

Progress and Final Reports:

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.