Modeling analyses of the effects of changes in nitrogen oxides emissions from the electric power sector on ozone levels in the eastern United States

Journal Article · Tue Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

OSTI ID:21049757

Gego, Edith; Gilliland, Alice; Godowitch, James ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division, Air Resources Laboratory

In this paper, we examine the changes in ambient ozone concentrations simulated by the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model for summer 2002 under three different nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission scenarios. Two emission scenarios represent best estimates of 2002 and 2004 emissions; they allow assessment of the impact of the NOx emissions reductions imposed on the utility sector by the NOx State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call. The third scenario represents a hypothetical rendering of what NOx emissions would have been in 2002 if no emission controls had been imposed on the utility sector. Examination of the modeled median and 95th percentile daily maximum 8-hr average ozone concentrations reveals that median ozone levels estimated for the 2004 emission scenario were less than those modeled for 2002 in the region most affected by the NOx SIP Call. Comparison of the 'no-control' with the '2002' scenario revealed that ozone concentrations would have been much higher in much of the eastern United States if the utility sector had not implemented NOx emission controls; exceptions occurred in the immediate vicinity of major point sources where increased NO titration tends to lower ozone levels. 13 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 21049757
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 58; ISSN JAWAEB; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR QUALITY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METEOROLOGY
NITROGEN OXIDES
OZONE
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
POWER GENERATION
SIMULATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
US EAST COAST
USA
WIND