Title: Effects of traffic emission reduction on urban air quality episode using WRF/Chem

Authors: Roberto San José; Juan Luis Pérez; Libia Pérez; Rosa M. González

Addresses: Environmental Software and Modelling Group, Computer Science School, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain ' Environmental Software and Modelling Group, Computer Science School, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain ' Environmental Software and Modelling Group, Computer Science School, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain ' Department of Physics and Meteorology, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Traffic emission control strategies have been tested in order to reduce the effects of traffic on pollution concentrations in Madrid (Spain) during an air quality episode with very large NOx concentrations. The meteorology-chemistry model WRF/Chem allows forecasting these effects with high spatial resolution (1 km). It was necessary to develop very detailed emission inventories with a bottom-up methodology. For traffic emissions, the traffic flow simulation model SUMO has been applied, using the real time traffic counters data, Madrid vehicle fleet distribution, and emission factors from EMEP-CORINAIR Tier 3 methodology. The base or control simulation has been compared with data from the Madrid air quality monitoring network. The control simulation reproduces satisfactorily the high NO2 concentration values. The traffic reduction strategies which were taken on 28 and 29 December 2016, did not contribute substantially to improve the air quality in Madrid.

Keywords: WRF/Chem; traffic; emissions; pollution and urban.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2018.099164

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2018 Vol.64 No.1/2/3, pp.265 - 282

Received: 24 Jan 2018
Accepted: 02 Dec 2018

Published online: 16 Apr 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article