Investigation of NOx and Tropospheric Ozone Transport around a Major Roadway

The objective of the proposed research is to obtain data on the variation of ozone concentrations simultaneously with data on weather, traffic, and nitrogen oxide concentrations; to model the ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations near major roadways using CALINE4; and to validate the model with the obtained data. Despite recent advances in the automobile industry in reducing emissions from individual vehicles, because of the regional increases in the traffic volumes, air pollution in those localities still persist at problematic levels. Vehicular emissions are the major contributors to atmospheric NOx constituting about half of all anthropogenic emissions. The secondary species, like ozone, formed in the atmosphere as the result of the reactions of NOx with other species, are known to cause a wide variety of health and environmental problems. Measurements done at the air pollution monitoring stations provide regional data with some temporal resolution. These stations are generally located sufficiently away from heavily traveled roadways, so that they provide background data and their numbers are too few to provide a detailed spatial resolution. Air pollutant concentrations can be significantly higher close to major roadways. This makes the local pollutant concentration measurements and finding ways to predict concentrations with a much higher spatial resolution essential in making decisions about locating buildings that will house sensitive populations. Two recent developments highlighted the importance of this work. The first one is the proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide announced on June 26, 2009. EPA is proposing a new 1-hour standard at a level between 80 and 100 ppb while retaining the current average NO2 standard of 53 ppb. This proposal increases the importance of measuring the peak concentrations over shorter time periods especially near major roads in urban areas. The second development is the January 7, 2010 announcement by EPA proposing to change the standard for ground level ozone to no more than 0.06 to 0.07 ppm from the current value of 0.075 ppm. Since ground level ozone is formed by the reaction of nitrogen oxides with volatile organic compounds, the proposed change emphasizes the importance of the investigation of nitrogen oxide and ozone concentrations around major roadways. Therefore, to address these issues, in this research project, we are proposing (1) To add an ozone analyzer to the mobile NOx analyzer-weather monitoring unit built during the project performed last year. (2) To obtain coordinated measurements of NO, NO2 and ozone concentrations and meteorological conditions at varying distances from the roadway, together with the traffic volume and vehicle type data, taking into account the experience gained during the project performed last year. (3) To use CALINE4 to estimate the NO2 and ozone concentrations at receptors located at the measurement points. (4) To analyze the data obtained to elucidate the adequacy of CALINE4 in predicting the local NO2 and ozone concentrations near roadways and perform a sensitivity analysis on the input variables, which are not directly measured, to suggest possible improvements. A summary of the tasks and schedule for the proposed work is presented below: 1. Completion of literature review on ozone: March - April, 2010 2. Calibration of equipment: March - April, 2010 3. Training of student researchers March - May 2010 4. Creation of the CALINE4 model of the new I-64 section and receptor locations March - April, 2010 5. Measurement of NO2, NO and O3 concentrations at receptors: May - December 2010 6. Evaluation of data: June 15, 2010 - January 2011 7. Sensitivity analysis using CALINE4: October 2010-January 2011 8. Analysis of results and preparation of the final report: December2010-February 2011.

• Record URL:
  http://biz.hamptonu.edu/esitac

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $457000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT06-G-0029

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  Department of Transportation
  1200 New Jersey Avneue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Hampton University

  School of Engineering and Technology
  Hampton, VA  United States  23668
• Principal Investigators:

  Akyurtlu, Jale

  Akyurtlu, Ates

• Start Date: 20100301
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20110228
• Source Data: RiP Project 26205

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Exhaust gases; Nitrogen dioxide; Nitrogen oxides; Ozone; Pollutants
• Identifier Terms: National Ambient Air Quality Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Tropospheric Ozone Management Areas
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01463959
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Eastern Seaboard Intermodal Transportation Applications Center
• Contract Numbers: DTRT06-G-0029
• Files: UTC, RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:33PM