On the possibility of estimating the volume of NO2 emissions in cities using zenith spectral observations of diffuse solar radiation near 450 nm

Abstract

Methodological questions are considered for using the measurements of the integral content of NO2 in the atmospheric boundary layer, carried out at a fixed station, to analyze NO2 sources in a city. These measurements are carried out regularly at the IAP RAS network in Moscow. The experimental estimates of NO2 content are compared with calculations of pollutant transport by the ISCST3 model on the basis of the emission inventory, which shows a good agreement between these two approaches. We suggested a technique for estimating NO2 emissions in the urban environment with the use of the NO2 integral content measurements by the zenith spectral method. During the observation period of 2010–2011, vehicular emissions of NO2 in Moscow amounted to 88 kt/year.