An Application of the Empirical Kinetic Modeling Approach (EKMA) to the Cologne Area

Abstract

The Empirical Kinetic Modeling Approach (EKMA), recently proposed by the EPA, is a method for deriving ozone-percursor relationships that can be used to design a control strategy for urban ozone reduction. The technique is based on an isopleth diagram generated by computer simulations of the chemical reactions occuring among pollutants in a well-mixed box subjected to dilution, time varying light intensity, diurnal dependence of the emissions, and background concentration levels. The performance of EKMA is discussed in an application to the Cologne area of the FRG. The lateral and vertical spatial distribution of the precursor emissions in this area strongly violates the assumption of homogeneous mixing underlying EKMA. Therefore, the applicability of EKMA for developing control strategies in the Cologne area is limited.