Title: Application of a long-range transport model for the assessment of air quality on a local scale

Authors: E. Klimova-Murphy, B.E.A. Fisher

Addresses: School of Environmental Sciences, The University of Greenwich, Deptford Campus, Rachel McMillan Building, Creek Road, London SE8 3BW, UK. ' School of Environmental Sciences, The University of Greenwich, Deptford Campus, Rachel McMillan Building, Creek Road, London SE8 3BW, UK

Abstract: The simple statistical air pollution transport model called UGEM (the University of Greenwich Evaluation Model) has been developed to evaluate medium-range transport and deposition of acidic pollutants (sulphur, nitrogen) from all sources of emissions in the UK and to estimate their average annual deposition and concentrations throughout the UK. It has been tested for sulphur and nitrogen oxides using available measurements from which upper and lower bounds on its estimates have been defined. A comparison of the UGEM model with the other long-range transport models currently under development in the UK has been performed. A description of the model and the results of the validation are given in this paper. The UGEM model has been applied for the assessment of air quality on a local scale to provide guidance to local authorities on fluxes into their area on a scale of 10 km × 10 km. As a case study, it has been applied to the so-called Thames Gateway region east of London, which is subject to high NO2 levels close to European Union guidelines and has significant sources both inside and outside the area. It has then been shown how trans-boundary fluxes should be considered on a local scale.

Keywords: air quality models; acidic pollutants; atmospheric dispersion modelling; sulphur oxide; UK; nitrogen oxide; UGEM model; local modelling; air pollution; environmental pollution; pollution transport models; United Kingdom; trans-boundary fluxes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1997.028189

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1997 Vol.8 No.3/4/5/6, pp.408 - 419

Published online: 15 Sep 2009 *

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