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Flux Measurements of Volatile Organic Compounds from an Urban Landscape

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters, 32(20):L20802, doi: 10.1029/2005GL023356
Direct measurements of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that include all anthropogenic and biogenic emission sources in urban areas are a missing requirement to evaluate emission inventories and constrain current photochemical modelling practices. Here we demonstrate the use of micrometeorological techniques coupled with fast-response sensors to measure urban VOC fluxes from a neighborhood of Mexico City, where the spatial variability of surface cover and roughness is high. Fluxes of olefins, methanol, acetone, toluene and C2-benzenes were measured and compared with the local gridded emission inventory. VOC fluxes exhibited a clear diurnal pattern with a strong relationship to vehicular traffic. Recent photochemical modeling results suggest that VOC emissions are significantly underestimated in Mexico City1, but the measured VOC fluxes described here indicate that the official emission inventory2 is essentially correct. Thus, other explanations are needed to explain the photochemical modelling results.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
876982
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-47288; 3386; KP1205030
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, 32(20):L20802, doi: 10.1029/2005GL023356, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters, 32(20):L20802, doi: 10.1029/2005GL023356 Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 32; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English