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Ozone Formation Potentials of Volatile Organic Compounds and Ozone Sensitivity to Their Emission in the Megacity of São Paulo, Brazil

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Abstract

In the present study, a three-dimensional Eulerian photochemical model was employed to estimate the impact that organic compounds have on tropospheric ozone formation in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP). In the year 2000, base case simulations were conducted in two periods: August 22–24 and March 13–15. Based on the pollutant concentrations calculated by the model, the correlation coefficient relative to observations for ozone ranged from 0.91 to 0.93 in both periods. In the simulations employed to evaluate the ozone potential of individual VOCs, as well as the sensitivity of ozone to the VOC/NO x emission ratio, the variation in anthropogenic emissions was estimated at 15% (according to tests performed previously variations of 15% were stable). Although there were significant differences between the two periods, ozone concentrations were found to be much more sensitive to VOCs than to NO x in both periods and throughout the study domain. In addition, considering their individual rates of emission from vehicles, the species/classes that were most important for ozone formation were as follows: aromatics with a kOH > 2 × 104 ppm−1 min−1; olefins with a kOH < 7 × 104 ppm−1 min−1; olefins with a kOH > 7 × 104 ppm−1 min−1; ethene; and formaldehyde, which are the principal species related to the production, transport, storage and combustion of fossil fuels.

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Acknowledgments

This study received financial support in the form of a grant from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, Foundation for the Support of Research in the State of São Paulo; grant No. 02/09060-1). We would like to thank CETESB, for providing the air-quality data and Dr. Robert A. Harley for his kind help in discussing the results. We are also grateful to Jefferson D. Boyles for editing the text.

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  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, São Paulo, São Paolo, 05508-090, Brazil

    Leila Droprinchinski Martins & Maria de Fátima Andrade

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  1. Leila Droprinchinski Martins
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  2. Maria de Fátima Andrade
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Correspondence to Leila Droprinchinski Martins.

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Martins, L.D., Andrade, M.d.F. Ozone Formation Potentials of Volatile Organic Compounds and Ozone Sensitivity to Their Emission in the Megacity of São Paulo, Brazil. Water Air Soil Pollut 195, 201–213 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9740-x

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