Open AccessThe BOND project: Biogenic aerosols and air quality in Athens and Marseille greater areas
Author(s) -
Sotiropoulou R. E. P.,
Tagaris E.,
Pilinis C.,
Andronopoulos S.,
Sfetsos A.,
Bartzis J. G.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2003jd003955
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , environmental chemistry , particulates , pollutant , ozone , air quality index , pollution , atmospheric sciences , air pollution , chemistry , meteorology , geology , ecology , geography , organic chemistry , biology
The role of Secondary Biogenic Organic Aerosol in aerosol budget is examined using the Atmospheric Dispersion of Pollutants over Complex Terrain–Urban Airshed Model–Aerosols (ADREA‐I/UAM‐AERO) modeling system in two representative Mediterranean areas. The areas have been selected, because of their elevated biogenic emission levels and the sufficient degree of meteorological and land use diversity characterizing the locations. Comparison of the model results with and without biogenic emissions reveals the significant role biogenic emissions play in modulating ozone and aerosol concentrations. Biogenic emissions are predicted to affect the concentrations of organic aerosol constituents through the reactions of terpenes with O 3 , OH and NO 3 . The ozonolysis of terpenes is predicted to cause an increase in OH radical concentrations that ranges from 10% to 78% for Athens, and from 20% to 95% for Marseilles, depending on the location, compared to the predictions without biogenic emissions. The reactions of this extra hydroxyl radical with SO 2 and NO x have as final products increased concentrations of sulfates and nitrates in the particulate phase. As a result, biogenic emissions are predicted to affect the concentrations not only of organic aerosols, but those of inorganic aerosols as well. Thus biogenic emissions should be taken into consideration when models for the prediction and enforcement of abatement strategies of atmospheric pollution are applied.