Abstract
The goal of this study is to analyze the relative contribution of different emission source categories to ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area of Texas. Emission Processing System (EPS3) is used to prepare the emission files for five different source combination cases (Base case, Biogenic, Area + Biogenic, Mobile + Biogenic, Low-level Point + Biogenic). These emission files are used to perform photochemical modeling with Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx), and the results are analyzed with Visual Environment for Rich Data Interpretation (VERDI) tool. The daily maximum ozone concentrations and individual contributions of the source categories were analyzed over a 15-day study period between June 1-15, 2012, at three locations (University of Houston-Sugarland, Bayland Park and Conroe). Biogenic sources contributed an average of 49.7% ± 12.8%, 43.1% ± 12.0%, and 39.9% ± 9.28% at Sugarland, Bayland Park and Conroe sites respectively, indicating the significance of isoprene emissions from the vegetation in northeast Houston. On peak ozone days, contribution of Mobile + Biogenic source category averages about 80.1% ± 12.6%, 79.9% ± 6.50%, and 75.9% ± 10.9% at Sugarland, Bayland Park and Conroe sites respectively, indicating the dominance of mobile source NOX emissions and the necessity for regulatory focus on mobile source emissions control.
Highlights
On April 30, 2004, the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area comprising eight counties in Texas, was designated as a “moderate nonattainment” area under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS
The results show that during this period, the highest ozone concentrations occurred on Friday, June 1st, Thursday June 7th and Sunday, June 9th for Sites 1 and 2
Ozone concentrations at three locations (Sugarland, Bayland Park and Conroe) in the HGB area have been simulated with Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) photochemical model for the time period, June 1-15, 2012, and results were observed using the Visual Environment for Rich Data Interpretation (VERDI) tool
Summary
On April 30, 2004, the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area comprising eight counties in Texas, was designated as a “moderate nonattainment” area under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. In 2000, Texas Air Quality Study observational data have been collected, which indicated that the rapid and efficient ozone formation originated mostly from the high petrochemical industrial emissions [2] [6]. It has been indicated by these data that the plumes occurring rapid and efficient ozone formation contained high concentration of light olefins (especially butenes (butylenes), propene (propylene), ethane (ethylene), and 1,3-butadiene), which by the State of Texas have been designated as highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOCs) [9]
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