Citation:

Pouliot, G., M. Day, K. Baker, M. Beardsley, G. Frost, B. Henderson, S. Hunt, V. Rao, H. Simon, T. Yelverton, AND D. Mobley. Reflecting on Progress since the 2005 NARSTO Emissions Inventory Report. 2019 International Emissions Inventory Conference, Dallas, TX, July 29 - August 02, 2019.

Impact/Purpose:

In 2005, a report by the public/private partnership North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO) evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of North American air pollution emissions inventories. This paper reviews the eight recommendation areas and briefly discusses what has been addressed, what remains unchanged, and new questions that have arisen. Although progress has been made, many opportunities exist for the scientific agencies, industry, and government agencies to leverage resources and collaborate to continue improving emissions inventories.

Description:

Emission inventories are the foundation for cost-effective air quality management activities. In 2005, a report by the public/private partnership known as the North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO) evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of North American emissions inventories and made recommendations for improving their effectiveness. This paper reviews the recommendation areas and briefly discusses what has been addressed, what remains unchanged, and new questions that have arisen. The findings reveal that the emissions inventory improvement areas identified by the 2005 NARSTO publication have been explored and improved to some degree. The U.S. National Emissions Inventory has become more detailed and has incorporated new research into some previously under-characterized sources such as biomass burning. Additionally, it is now easier to access the emissions inventory and the documentation of the inventory via the internet. However, many emissions-related research needs exist, such as research into emission estimation methods, speciation, scalable emission factor development, incorporating results of new emission measurement techniques, uncertainty, top-down verification, uncharacterized sources, and estimation method comparability. A common theme throughout this retrospective summary has been the need for increased coordination among stakeholders. Researchers and inventory developers must work together to ensure that planned emission research is inventory-relevant, scalable in terms of applications to regional and national inventory development and new findings can be used to update the emissions inventory. To continue to address emissions inventory challenges, industry, the scientific community, and government agencies need to continue to leverage resources and collaborate as often as possible. As evidenced by the progress noted, continued investment in and coordination of emissions inventory activities will provide dividends to air quality management programs across the country and world.

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