Study of Photolysis Rate Coefficients to Improve Air Quality Models

ORAL

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to measure hemi-spherically integrated spectrally resolved solar photon flux between the wavelengths of 300 and 700 nm (actinic flux), and use the measured actinic flux to improve air quality simulations. Photolysis is the main driver of ozone production and this factor defines the significance of this research work. The actinic flux has been measured during the summer of 2015 in the El Paso-Juarez Airshed, at the UTEP location to calculate photolysis rate coefficients for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and formaldehyde (HCHO). The improved photolysis rate coefficients have been integrated into a photochemical airquality model (CAMx), and simulations for a selected modeling summer 2015 ozone episode have been performed in the El Paso-Juarez Airshed in an attempt to improve on air quality forecasting. We present inter-comparison results of the ozone concentrations using the standard photolysis rate coefficients and the modified photolysis rate coefficients. Although this novel methodology is applied in the El Paso-Juarez Airshed, it can be used in any US region.

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Authors

  • Suhail Mahmud

    Computational Science Dept,University of Texas at El Paso

  • Pema Wangchuk

    Computational Science Dept,University of Texas at El Paso

  • Rosa Fitzgerald

    Physics department,University of Texas at El Paso

  • William Stockwell

    Logan High School, University of Tsukuba, Department of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Utah Valley University, University of New Mexico, Brigham Young University, Moxtek, INC, New Mexico State University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN 37830, USA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, Brigham Young University Provo, Rice University, Perimeter Institute and University of Guelph, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France, Texas A&M University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Valencia, Spain, None, University of Texas at El Paso, Universidad Simon Bolivar, Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Brigham Young University - Provo, Morgan High School - Morgan, UT, Utah State University, University of Tsukaba, Chemistry Research Center, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, JILA, University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Colorado State University, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University \& New Mexico State University,, National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, U of Utah, NMSU, Division of Engineering, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Chemical Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA, INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrucken, Germany, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 7996, UTEP, Arizona State University, The University of Texas at El Paso, none, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Division of Engineering, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Department of Physics, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas A&M University, Commerce,TX-75428, USA., INFN, Sezione di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy, Texas A&M University Commerce, Commerce, Texas-75429, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, USA, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA, Department of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Delaware, IIT INDORE, UT AUSTIN, Idaho Accelerator Center, Brigham Young University, Physics and Astronomy, Univesidad de Guanajuato, Fermilab, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, RadiaSoft, LLC, Weber State University, University of Texas at Dallas, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, Howard University