Title: Photochemical modelling of summer ozone episodes in the Greater Madrid area

Authors: M. Palacios, F. Martin, A. Martilli, F. Kirchner, A. Clappier, M.E. Rodriguez

Addresses: Department of Environmental Impact of Energy, Centre of Research in Energy, Environment and Technology, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Department of Environmental Impact of Energy, Centre of Research in Energy, Environment and Technology, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Laboratory of Air Pollution, Department of Rural Engineering, Federal, Polytechnic School of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Laboratory of Air Pollution, Department of Rural Engineering, Federal, Polytechnic School of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Laboratory of Air Pollution, Department of Rural Engineering, Federal, Polytechnic School of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Department of Industrial Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School, of Industrial Engineers, Jose Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: The mesoscale meteorological model TVM, coupled to a photochemical/transport module in which different chemical mechanisms (RACM, EMEP) are implemented, has been evaluated. Field measurements and numerical results are used to determine the impact of the mesoscale flows on the photochemical smog episodes observed in the Greater Madrid Area for two selected days, characterised by the presence of a thermal low-pressure system over the Iberian Peninsula. During the 14 July 1992, the synoptic flow from the southeast favoured the transport of the precursors to the Guadarrama mountain range, where high concentrations of ozone were registered, exceeding the population information threshold. On the 15 July 1995, the synoptic wind from the northwest interacted with the local thermally driven flows, pushing the pollutants far away from the metropolitan area with the result that high ozone concentrations were measured to the east-southeast of the city.

Keywords: air pollution modelling; chemical mechanisms; photochemistry; ozone; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2002.000709

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2002 Vol.18 No.3, pp.243-259

Published online: 14 Jul 2003 *

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