Investigation of gaseous and particulate emissions from various marine vessel types measured on the banks of the Elbe in Northern Germany

J.-M Diesch,T Klimach,S Borrmann,F Drewnick

doi:10.5194/acp-13-3603-2013

J.-M Diesch, T Klimach + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3603-2013

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Abstract

Abstract. Measurements of the ambient aerosol, various trace gases and meteorological quantities using a mobile laboratory (MoLa) were performed on the banks of the Lower Elbe in an emission control area (ECA) which is passed by numerous private and commercial marine vessels reaching and leaving the port of Hamburg, Germany. From 25–29 April 2011 a total of 178 vessels were probed at a distance of about 0.8–1.2 km with high temporal resolution. 139 ship emission plumes were of sufficient quality to be analyzed further and to determine emission factors (EFs). Concentrations of aerosol number and mass as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and black carbon were measured in PM1 and size distribution instruments covered the diameter range from 6 nm up to 32 μm. The chemical composition of the non-refractory submicron aerosol was measured by means of an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (Aerodyne HR-ToF-AMS). Gas phase species analyzers monitored various trace gases (O3, SO2, NO, NO2, CO2) in the air and a weather station provided wind, precipitation, solar radiation data and other quantities. Together with ship information for each vessel obtained from Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts a detailed characterization of the individual ship types and of features affecting gas and particulate emissions is provided. Particle number EFs (average 2.6e+16 # kg−1) and PM1 mass EFs (average 2.4 g kg−1) tend to increase with the fuel sulfur content. Observed PM1 composition of the vessel emissions was dominated by organic matter (72%), sulfate (22%) and black carbon (6%) while PAHs only account for 0.2% of the submicron aerosol mass. Measurements of gaseous components showed an increase of SO2 (average EF: 7.7 g kg−1) and NOx (average EF: 53 g kg−1) while O3 decreased when a ship plume reached the sampling site. The particle number size distributions of the vessels are generally characterized by a bimodal size distribution, with the nucleation mode in the 10–20 nm diameter range and a combustion aerosol mode centered at about 35 nm while particles \\textgreater 1 μm were not found. "High particle number emitters" are characterized by a dominant nucleation mode. By contrast, increased particle concentrations around 150 nm primarily occurred for "high black carbon emitters". Classifying the vessels according to their gross tonnage shows a decrease of the number, black carbon and PAH EFs while EFs of SO2, NO, NO2, NOx, AMS species (particulate organics, sulfate) and PM1 mass concentration increase with increasing gross tonnages.

Highlights

M ered the diameter range from 6 nm up to 32 μm
The ship emission measurement campaign was conducted near the Elbe river mouth in Northern Germany (Fig. 1a) between 25 and 29 April 2011. 178 commercial and private vessels were probed during the 5 days of sampling, with 139 of the measured ship plumes being of sufficient quality to be considered in the analysis
In contrast to studies which were not performed in an emission control area (ECA) (Lack et al, 2009; Moldanova et al, 2009) we found organic matter (OM) but not sulfate to be

Summary

Introduction

The chemi- NO2, NOx, AMS species (particulate organics, sulfate) and cal composition of the non-refractory submicron aerosol was measured by means of an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer Measurements of Gaseous and particulate emissions from marine vessels gain itnhcereaansthinrgopaotgteenntiiconbudrudOeenctooeftahthenier aSstimgcnoiisefipcnhaencrtee,cothnetrcibhuatniogne to of the atmospheric composition and the impact on local and regional air quality and climate (Corbett and Fischbeck, 1997; Endresen et al, 2003; Eyring et al, 2005a, 2010). NOx levels caused by ship emissions can be seen along the shipping routes via satelliSteomleidasuEreamretnhts (Beirle et al., 2004). These emissions have a significant impact on the ozone chemistry and increase hydroxyl radical. Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in ship exhaust indirectly affect global radiative forcing, visible in satellite images as so-called “ship tracks”, regions downwind of ships characterized by increased solar reflectivity due to marine stratiform clouds (Hobbs et al, 2000; Durkee et al, 2000; Dusek et al, 2006)

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