Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity

Measurements of CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, NO<sub>x</sub> and selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) mole fractions were performed continuously during a 10-day period in the Guy Môquet tunnel in Thiais, a peri-urban area about 15 km south of the centre of Paris, between 28 Septe...

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Main Authors: L. Ammoura, I. Xueref-Remy, V. Gros, A. Baudic, B. Bonsang, J.-E. Petit, O. Perrussel, N. Bonnaire, J. Sciare, F. Chevallier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2014-12-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/12871/2014/acp-14-12871-2014.pdf
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author L. Ammoura
I. Xueref-Remy
V. Gros
A. Baudic
B. Bonsang
J.-E. Petit
O. Perrussel
N. Bonnaire
J. Sciare
F. Chevallier
author_facet L. Ammoura
I. Xueref-Remy
V. Gros
A. Baudic
B. Bonsang
J.-E. Petit
O. Perrussel
N. Bonnaire
J. Sciare
F. Chevallier
author_sort L. Ammoura
collection DOAJ
description Measurements of CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, NO<sub>x</sub> and selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) mole fractions were performed continuously during a 10-day period in the Guy Môquet tunnel in Thiais, a peri-urban area about 15 km south of the centre of Paris, between 28 September and 8 October 2012. This data set is used here to identify the characteristics of traffic-emitted CO<sub>2</sub> by evaluating its ratios to co-emitted species for the first time in the Paris region. High coefficients of determination (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.7) are observed between CO<sub>2</sub> and certain compounds that are characteristic of the traffic source (CO, NO<sub>x</sub>, benzene, xylenes and acetylene). Weak correlations (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> < 0.2) are found with species such as propane, n-butane and <i>i</i>-butane that are associated with fuel evaporation, an insignificant source for CO<sub>2</sub>. To better characterise the traffic signal we focus only on species that are well-correlated with CO<sub>2</sub> and on rush-hour periods characterised by the highest traffic-related mole fractions. From those mole fractions we remove the nighttime-average weekday mole fraction obtained for each species that we infer to be the most appropriate background signal for our study. Then we calculate observed Δspecies / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratios, which we compare with the ones provided by the 2010 bottom–up high-resolved regional emission inventory from Airparif (the association in charge of monitoring the air quality in Île-de-France), focusing on local emission data for the specific road of the tunnel. We find an excellent agreement (2%) between the local inventory emission CO / CO<sub>2</sub> ratio and our observed ΔCO / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratio. Former tunnel experiments carried out elsewhere in the world provided observed ΔCO / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratios that differ from 49 to 592% to ours. This variability can be related to technological improvement of vehicles, differences in driving conditions, and fleet composition. We also find a satisfactory agreement with the Airparif inventory for n-propylbenzene, n-pentane and xylenes to CO<sub>2</sub> ratios. For most of the other species, the ratios obtained from the local emission inventory overestimate the observed ratios to CO<sub>2</sub> by 34 to more than 300%. However, the emission ratios of NO<sub>x</sub>, <i>o</i>-xylene and <i>i</i>-pentane are underestimated by 30 to 79%. One main cause of such high differences between the inventory and our observations is likely the obsolete feature of the VOCs speciation matrix of the inventory that has not been updated since 1998, although law regulations on some VOCs have occurred since that time. Our study bears important consequences, discussed in the conclusion, for the characterisation of the urban CO<sub>2</sub> plume and for atmospheric inverse modelling of urban CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.
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spelling doaj.art-5cfc39703d9348d08174ec862a6da80a2022-12-21T18:45:28ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-12-011423128711288210.5194/acp-14-12871-2014Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacityL. Ammoura0I. Xueref-Remy1V. Gros2A. Baudic3B. Bonsang4J.-E. Petit5O. Perrussel6N. Bonnaire7J. Sciare8F. Chevallier9LSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceAirparif, Association de Surveillance de la Qualité de l'Air en Île-de-France, Paris, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceLSCE, Unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR 8212, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceMeasurements of CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, NO<sub>x</sub> and selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) mole fractions were performed continuously during a 10-day period in the Guy Môquet tunnel in Thiais, a peri-urban area about 15 km south of the centre of Paris, between 28 September and 8 October 2012. This data set is used here to identify the characteristics of traffic-emitted CO<sub>2</sub> by evaluating its ratios to co-emitted species for the first time in the Paris region. High coefficients of determination (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.7) are observed between CO<sub>2</sub> and certain compounds that are characteristic of the traffic source (CO, NO<sub>x</sub>, benzene, xylenes and acetylene). Weak correlations (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> < 0.2) are found with species such as propane, n-butane and <i>i</i>-butane that are associated with fuel evaporation, an insignificant source for CO<sub>2</sub>. To better characterise the traffic signal we focus only on species that are well-correlated with CO<sub>2</sub> and on rush-hour periods characterised by the highest traffic-related mole fractions. From those mole fractions we remove the nighttime-average weekday mole fraction obtained for each species that we infer to be the most appropriate background signal for our study. Then we calculate observed Δspecies / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratios, which we compare with the ones provided by the 2010 bottom–up high-resolved regional emission inventory from Airparif (the association in charge of monitoring the air quality in Île-de-France), focusing on local emission data for the specific road of the tunnel. We find an excellent agreement (2%) between the local inventory emission CO / CO<sub>2</sub> ratio and our observed ΔCO / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratio. Former tunnel experiments carried out elsewhere in the world provided observed ΔCO / ΔCO<sub>2</sub> ratios that differ from 49 to 592% to ours. This variability can be related to technological improvement of vehicles, differences in driving conditions, and fleet composition. We also find a satisfactory agreement with the Airparif inventory for n-propylbenzene, n-pentane and xylenes to CO<sub>2</sub> ratios. For most of the other species, the ratios obtained from the local emission inventory overestimate the observed ratios to CO<sub>2</sub> by 34 to more than 300%. However, the emission ratios of NO<sub>x</sub>, <i>o</i>-xylene and <i>i</i>-pentane are underestimated by 30 to 79%. One main cause of such high differences between the inventory and our observations is likely the obsolete feature of the VOCs speciation matrix of the inventory that has not been updated since 1998, although law regulations on some VOCs have occurred since that time. Our study bears important consequences, discussed in the conclusion, for the characterisation of the urban CO<sub>2</sub> plume and for atmospheric inverse modelling of urban CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/12871/2014/acp-14-12871-2014.pdf
spellingShingle L. Ammoura
I. Xueref-Remy
V. Gros
A. Baudic
B. Bonsang
J.-E. Petit
O. Perrussel
N. Bonnaire
J. Sciare
F. Chevallier
Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
title_full Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
title_fullStr Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
title_full_unstemmed Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
title_short Atmospheric measurements of ratios between CO<sub>2</sub> and co-emitted species from traffic: a tunnel study in the Paris megacity
title_sort atmospheric measurements of ratios between co sub 2 sub and co emitted species from traffic a tunnel study in the paris megacity
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/12871/2014/acp-14-12871-2014.pdf
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