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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A photochemical modeling ozone attainment demonstration for an area impacted by transport

Conference ·
OSTI ID:422933
;  [1];  [2]
  1. San Diego Air Pollution Control District, CA (United States)
  2. Atmospheric Information Systems, Norman, OK (United States)

Violations of ambient ozone standards in San Diego County can result from emissions originating within the County or from transport of ozone and ozone precursors. The primary source of pollutant transport into the county is the greater Los Angeles area to the north and northwest. Maximum ozone concentrations due to transport can exceed 0.20 ppm. Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, ozone nonattainment areas classified as Serious, Severe, or Extreme are required to demonstrate attainment of the ambient standard by means of photochemical modeling by 1999, 2005, or 2010, respectively. The Los Angeles area is the only Extreme nonattainment area. Reclassified as a Serious ozone nonattainment area in early 1995, San Diego was required by EPA policy to model an ozone episode caused by transported pollutants as well as an episode primarily caused by local emissions. Modeling a transport episode is especially difficult, not only because the meteorology of transport is complex, but also because data to describe and quantify the transport species are limited. The accuracy of the meteorological and boundary condition inputs is critical to an accurate model simulation. The staff of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SPAPCD) developed an innovative approach. The success of this approach rests on the preparation of a detailed conceptual model of the meteorology and air quality of the transport episode.

OSTI ID:
422933
Report Number(s):
CONF-960127--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English