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Analysis of NO, NO2, and O3 Between Model Simulations and Ground-Based, Aircraft, and Satellite Observations

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Abstract

Regional air quality model simulations with Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ) were evaluated using multiple platforms for a 2-month summer period. In this context, inter-comparisons of the model with available satellite-based observations of NO2, ground- and aircraft-based observations of NO, NO2, NO x , NO y , and O3 were performed. NO2 comparisons found low biases in CMAQ results when using both ground- and satellite-based observations. Aircraft-based observations, on the other hand, indicated a higher positive bias and error, but the overall NO2 vertical profile was captured well by the model. The highest correlation was observed with satellite-based NO2 observations indicating that the model and satellite found similar spatial gradients. NO concentrations were underestimated in comparison with both ground- and aircraft-based observations, especially near the surface, indicating the limitations of the model to simulate primary pollutant concentrations at point observations when there are sources nearby. NO y comparisons found positive biases in the model when using both ground- and aircraft-based observations. The main reason for this overestimation was the consistent overestimation of peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs) in CMAQ results. Modeled O3 concentrations compared well with lowest biases and errors when compared to aircraft- and ground-based observations. The O3 vertical profile indicated a small positive bias in the model results near the surface similar to the comparison with ground-based observations. However, a negative bias in the model was observed above 2 km. Comparison with aircraft-based observations revealed significant overestimations in PAN and OH concentrations. Overestimation of the modeled OH concentrations is particularly important considering the effect of OH in atmospheric reactions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NASA projects (NNG04GE15G, NNX11AI55G), EPA grants (RD83096001, RD83107601 and RD83215901). We would like to thank Randal Martin for providing the SCIAMACHY NO2 retrievals and ICARTT team for having the aircraft-based measurements publicly available. NLDN data used for developing the lightning NO x emissions is provided by the NASA Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) instrument team and the LIS data center via the Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) located at the Global Hydrology and Climate Center (GHCC), Huntsville, Alabama through a license agreement with Vaisala, Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Burcak Kaynak, Yongtao Hu & Armistead G. Russell

  2. School of Civil Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey

    Burcak Kaynak

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  1. Burcak Kaynak
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Correspondence to Burcak Kaynak.

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Kaynak, B., Hu, Y. & Russell, A.G. Analysis of NO, NO2, and O3 Between Model Simulations and Ground-Based, Aircraft, and Satellite Observations. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1674 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1674-2

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