Impact of global climate change on ozone, particulate matter, and secondary organic aerosol concentrations in California: A model perturbation analysis. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Horne, Jeremy R.; Dabdub, Donald
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric environment. Volume 153(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Air quality modeling -- Ozone -- Particulate matter -- Secondary organic aerosols -- South Coast Air Basin of California -- Climate change; Air -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- Periodicals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.12.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-2310

Abstract

Abstract: Air quality simulations are performed to determine the impact of changes in future climate and emissions on regional air quality in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) of California. The perturbation parameters considered in this study include (1) temperature, (2) absolute humidity, (3) biogenic VOC emissions due to temperature changes, and (4) boundary conditions. All parameters are first perturbed individually. In addition, the impact of simultaneously perturbing more than one parameter is analyzed. Air quality is simulated with meteorology representative of a summertime ozone pollution episode using both a baseline 2005 emissions inventory and a future emissions projection for the year 2023. Different locations within the modeling domain exhibit varying degrees of sensitivity to the perturbations considered. Afternoon domain wide average ozone concentrations are projected to increase by 13–18% as a result of changes in future climate and emissions. Afternoon increases at individual locations range from 10 to 36%. The change in afternoon particulate matter (PM) levels is a strong function of location in the basin, ranging from −7.1% to +4.7% when using 2005 emissions and −8.6% to +1.7% when using 2023 emissions. Afternoon secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentrations for the entire domain are projected to decrease by over 15%, and the change in SOA levels is not a strong function of the emissions inventory utilized. Temperature increases play the dominant role in determining the overall impact on ozone, PM, and SOA concentrations in both the individual and combined perturbation scenarios. Highlights: Temperature increases dominate the impact on ozone, PM and SOA in all scenarios. Impact of increasing temperature is greatest in the northeast portion of the basin. The largest changes in ozone, PM, and SOA occur in areas with poor air quality. Air quality management strategies must consider chemistry-climate interactions. SOA concentrations are projected to decrease by over 15% due to climate change.