Intercontinental influence of NO[subscript x] and CO emissions on particulate matter air quality
Author(s)
Leibensperger, Eric M.; Mickley, Loretta J.; Jacob, Daniel J.; Barrett, Steven R. H.
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Anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO[subscript x] ≡ NO + NO[subscript 2]) and carbon monoxide (CO) affect particulate matter (PM) air quality on an intercontinental scale by changing background concentrations of oxidants (OH, ozone, H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2]) and thus increasing the oxidation rate of sulfur dioxide (SO[subscript 2]) to sulfate and NOx to nitrate. We conduct sensitivity simulations with the GEOS–Chem chemical transport model and find that these intercontinental influences of NO[subscript x] and CO emissions on PM can be greater than those from SO[subscript 2] emissions (a direct PM precursor). The intercontinental impact of oxidant precursors is greatest in receptor regions with high domestic SO[subscript 2], NO[subscript x], and ammonia emissions and hence already high levels of PM. US NO[subscript x] and CO emissions increase annual mean PM in northern Europe and eastern China by up to 0.25 μg m[superscript −3]. The increase in Europe is mostly as sulfate, whereas in China it is mostly as nitrate. East Asian NO[subscript x] and CO emissions have a weaker intercontinental influence (~0.2 μg m[superscript −3] in northern Europe, ~0.1 μg m[superscript −3] in the eastern US). These intercontinental effects of NO[subscript x] and CO emissions on PM depend in a complex way on the chemical environment of receptor regions. Intercomparison of results from different models would be of great interest.
Date issued
2011-02Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and AstronauticsJournal
Atmospheric Environment
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Leibensperger, Eric M., Loretta J. Mickley, Daniel J. Jacob, and Steven R.H. Barrett. “Intercontinental Influence of NO[subscript x] and CO Emissions on Particulate Matter Air Quality.” Atmospheric Environment 45, no. 19 (June 2011): 3318–3324.
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
13522310