Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations
The effects of various meteorological parameters such as temperature, wind speed, absolute humidity, precipitation and mixing height on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations over Europe were examined using a three-dimensional chemical transport model, PMCAMx-2008. Our simulations covered three...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10283/2014/acp-14-10283-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818880514761687040 |
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| author | A. G. Megaritis C. Fountoukis P. E. Charalampidis H. A. C. Denier van der Gon C. Pilinis S. N. Pandis |
| author_facet | A. G. Megaritis C. Fountoukis P. E. Charalampidis H. A. C. Denier van der Gon C. Pilinis S. N. Pandis |
| author_sort | A. G. Megaritis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of various meteorological parameters such as temperature, wind
speed, absolute humidity, precipitation and mixing height on PM<sub>2.5</sub>
concentrations over Europe were examined using a three-dimensional chemical
transport model, PMCAMx-2008. Our simulations covered three periods,
representative of different seasons (summer, winter, and fall). PM<sub>2.5</sub>
appears to be more sensitive to temperature changes compared to the other
meteorological parameters in all seasons.
<br><br>
PM<sub>2.5</sub> generally decreases as temperature increases, although the
predicted changes vary significantly in space and time, ranging from
−700 ng m<sup>−3</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (−8% K<sup>−1</sup>) to
300 ng m<sup>−3</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (7% K<sup>−1</sup>). The predicted decreases of
PM<sub>2.5</sub> are mainly due to evaporation of ammonium nitrate, while the
higher biogenic emissions and the accelerated gas-phase reaction rates
increase the production of organic aerosol (OA) and sulfate, having the
opposite effect on PM<sub>2.5</sub>. The predicted responses of PM<sub>2.5</sub> to
absolute humidity are also quite variable, ranging from
−130 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup> (−1.6% %<sup>−1</sup>)
to 160 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup> (1.6% %<sup>−1</sup>)
dominated mainly by changes in inorganic PM<sub>2.5</sub> species. An increase in
absolute humidity favors the partitioning of nitrate to the aerosol phase and
increases the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> during summer and fall. Decreases in sulfate
and sea salt levels govern the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> response to humidity during
winter. A decrease of wind speed (keeping the emissions constant) increases
all PM<sub>2.5</sub> species (on average 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) due to
changes in dispersion and dry deposition. The wind speed effects on sea salt
emissions are significant for PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations over water and in
coastal areas. Increases in precipitation have a negative effect on
PM<sub>2.5</sub> (decreases up to 110 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) in all periods
due to increases in wet deposition of PM<sub>2.5</sub> species and their gas
precursors. Changes in mixing height have the smallest effects (up to
35 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) on PM<sub>2.5</sub> .
<br><br>
Regarding the relative importance of each of the meteorological parameters in
a changed future climate, the projected changes in precipitation are expected
to have the largest impact on PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels during all periods (changes
up to 2 μg m<sup>−3</sup> in the fall). The expected effects in future
PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels due to wind speed changes are similar in all seasons and
quite close to those resulting from future precipitation changes (up to
1.4 μg m<sup>−3</sup>). The expected increases in absolute humidity in
the future can lead to large changes in PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels (increases up to
2 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) mainly in the fall due to changes in particulate
nitrate levels. Despite the high sensitivity of PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels to
temperature, the small expected increases of temperature in the future will
lead to modest PM<sub>2.5</sub> changes and will not dominate the overall change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:47:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1cacf4f22a4842b185942f171d83b0d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:47:11Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-1cacf4f22a4842b185942f171d83b0d52022-12-21T20:16:55ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-09-011418102831029810.5194/acp-14-10283-2014Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrationsA. G. Megaritis0C. Fountoukis1P. E. Charalampidis2H. A. C. Denier van der Gon3C. Pilinis4S. N. Pandis5Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, GreeceInstitute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), 26504 Patras, GreeceInstitute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), 26504 Patras, GreeceNetherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB Utrecht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, GreeceThe effects of various meteorological parameters such as temperature, wind speed, absolute humidity, precipitation and mixing height on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations over Europe were examined using a three-dimensional chemical transport model, PMCAMx-2008. Our simulations covered three periods, representative of different seasons (summer, winter, and fall). PM<sub>2.5</sub> appears to be more sensitive to temperature changes compared to the other meteorological parameters in all seasons. <br><br> PM<sub>2.5</sub> generally decreases as temperature increases, although the predicted changes vary significantly in space and time, ranging from −700 ng m<sup>−3</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (−8% K<sup>−1</sup>) to 300 ng m<sup>−3</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (7% K<sup>−1</sup>). The predicted decreases of PM<sub>2.5</sub> are mainly due to evaporation of ammonium nitrate, while the higher biogenic emissions and the accelerated gas-phase reaction rates increase the production of organic aerosol (OA) and sulfate, having the opposite effect on PM<sub>2.5</sub>. The predicted responses of PM<sub>2.5</sub> to absolute humidity are also quite variable, ranging from −130 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup> (−1.6% %<sup>−1</sup>) to 160 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup> (1.6% %<sup>−1</sup>) dominated mainly by changes in inorganic PM<sub>2.5</sub> species. An increase in absolute humidity favors the partitioning of nitrate to the aerosol phase and increases the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> during summer and fall. Decreases in sulfate and sea salt levels govern the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> response to humidity during winter. A decrease of wind speed (keeping the emissions constant) increases all PM<sub>2.5</sub> species (on average 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) due to changes in dispersion and dry deposition. The wind speed effects on sea salt emissions are significant for PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations over water and in coastal areas. Increases in precipitation have a negative effect on PM<sub>2.5</sub> (decreases up to 110 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) in all periods due to increases in wet deposition of PM<sub>2.5</sub> species and their gas precursors. Changes in mixing height have the smallest effects (up to 35 ng m<sup>−3</sup> %<sup>−1</sup>) on PM<sub>2.5</sub> . <br><br> Regarding the relative importance of each of the meteorological parameters in a changed future climate, the projected changes in precipitation are expected to have the largest impact on PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels during all periods (changes up to 2 μg m<sup>−3</sup> in the fall). The expected effects in future PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels due to wind speed changes are similar in all seasons and quite close to those resulting from future precipitation changes (up to 1.4 μg m<sup>−3</sup>). The expected increases in absolute humidity in the future can lead to large changes in PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels (increases up to 2 μg m<sup>−3</sup>) mainly in the fall due to changes in particulate nitrate levels. Despite the high sensitivity of PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels to temperature, the small expected increases of temperature in the future will lead to modest PM<sub>2.5</sub> changes and will not dominate the overall change.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10283/2014/acp-14-10283-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. G. Megaritis C. Fountoukis P. E. Charalampidis H. A. C. Denier van der Gon C. Pilinis S. N. Pandis Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations |
| title_full | Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations |
| title_fullStr | Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations |
| title_short | Linking climate and air quality over Europe: effects of meteorology on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations |
| title_sort | linking climate and air quality over europe effects of meteorology on pm sub 2 5 sub concentrations |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10283/2014/acp-14-10283-2014.pdf |
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