Air Pollution Assessment in an Alpine Valley

Abstract

ALPNAP (Monitoring and Minimization of Traffic-Induced Noise and Air Pollution along Major Alpine Transport Routes) is an ongoing research project focussing on corresponding effects along several major transit routes across the European Alps. Assisting regional authorities with appropriate output, a unique cooperation of scientists within the alpine region was setup to better assess and predict the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollution and noise close to major alpine traverses. A methodology for measurement strategies and model simulations for air pollutants will be demonstrated for the Brenner traverse. Results of a field measurement campaign give detailed insights of the complexity of the atmospheric conditions and the distribution of air pollutants in the Inn valley. First results of the air quality simulations with the regional meteorology-chemistry model MCCM (MM5/chem) on a coarse resolution show the importance of a detailed emission inventory in an alpine valley.