A global three‐dimensional chemical transport model: 2. Nitrogen oxides and nonmethane hydrocarbon results

Abstract

In this paper, nitrogen oxide and total nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) from the University of Oslo global three‐dimensional chemical transport model (CTM) are presented and compared with data from both surface and free tropospheric observations. The model includes the most important processes, including photochemical and thermal reactions, wet and dry deposition, natural and anthropogenic emissions, stratospheric contributions of NOy, and daily variations in the meteorological fields generated from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model. The model exhibits daily and seasonal variations in NMHC and NOy species, consistent with our understanding of tropospheric photochemistry. Generally good agreement between modeled mixing ratios and observations is shown for NOy, PAN and total NMHCs over 3 orders of magnitude in both source and reote regions. For NOx, the model gives good agreement in rural and urban regions; however it tends to under predict clean free tropospheric concentrations by about 20 parts per trillion by volume (50–100%). This is most likely due to subgrid boundary layer exchange processes, too efficient removal of NOx and/or recent increases in NOx emissions which are not included in our 1980 emissions inventory (especially in east Asia). Seasonal cycles for NOx, PAN, NOy and NMHCs from a number of surface locations where these data are available are reproduced well. Speciation of NOy in the model is shown to be consistent with observations at three sites where such data are available; Scotia, Pennsylvania; Mauna Loa, Hawaii; and Alert, Northwest Territories where different NOy species dominate at each location (NOx, HNO3, and PAN respectively). Several uses of the CTM are demonstrated. Total tropospheric NOx, PAN5 HNO3, and NOy are calculated with the model and shown to vary seasonally. The seasonal variations are consistent with enhanced lifetimes during winter. The model is also used to determine the fractional contributions of NOy from the major anthropogenic source regions (Europe, Asia, and North America) at Mauna Loa. Future applications of the model will focus on the global ozone and nitrogen budgets and the sources of NOx to the remote free troposphere.