Title: Comparison of model predictions and measurements near a major road in an urban area

Authors: J. Harkonen, J. Walden, J. Kukkonen

Addresses: Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality Research, Sahaajankatu 20 E, FIN-00810 Helsinki, Finland. ' Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality Research, Sahaajankatu 20 E, FIN-00810 Helsinki, Finland. ' Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality Research, Sahaajankatu 20 E, FIN-00810 Helsinki, Finland

Abstract: We have compared measured concentration data with predictions from a dispersion modelling system. The measurement campaign was conducted near a major road in the Helsinki Metropolitan area during two months of 1994. The concentrations of five gaseous pollutants (NO, NO₂, O₃, CO and SO₂) were measured at three heights, together with the simultaneous measurement of traffic densities and the relevant meteorological parameters. The dispersion modelling system includes the road network dispersion model CAR-FMI, a meteorological pre-processing model, and a model for evaluating the urban background concentrations. The overall agreement of the model predictions and measured data for NO_x, NO₂ and O₃ was reasonably good, although the modelling system slightly underestimated both the NO₂ and O₃ concentrations.

Keywords: atmospheric dispersion models; gaseous pollutants; concentration measurements; traffic pollution; vehicle emissions; modelling; air pollution; environmental pollution; Finland; meteorological pre-processors; road traffic.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1997.028228

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1997 Vol.8 No.3/4/5/6, pp.761 - 768

Published online: 15 Sep 2009 *

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