P U R D U E G L O B A L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y I N I T I AT I V E
P URDUE OIL S P ILL RE S P ONS E
National Air Quality Forecasting System and
Investigation of Regional Air Quality Impact of
the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill
Daewon W. Byun
Air Resources Laboratory, OAR, NOAA
Abstract
Monday, November 8, 2010
3:30-4:30.
Lilly Hall, Rm. 2425
Air quality models help to expand our understanding of chemical and physical interactions of pollutants in the atmosphere
and forecast the quality of the air we breathe. Air quality modeling is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of air pollution
and emission control policies and regulations that influence energy management and agricultural practices to protect public
health. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates the National Air Quality Forecast
Capability (NAQFC) utilizing the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP’s) North American Mesoscale
(NAM) model and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling
system. Daily air quality forecasting is provided for the Conterminous US, Alaska, and Hawaii domains. The performance
statistics of air quality forecasting and sensitivity simulation results suggesting causes of model biases will be presented in
this talk. In addition, the preliminary simulation results of regional air quality impact of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf of
Mexico oil spill will be discussed. Air quality concerns arise once the oil reaches the ocean surface. Smokes from burning
oil gathered on the surface of the water and evaporative emissions from oil spread over the ocean surface can affect air
quality. The amount of surface oil and emissions factors for controlled oil burning and evaporative hydrocarbon emissions
are quite uncertain. Evaporative emissions are approximated into the area source emissions of hydrocarbons utilizing the
NOAA surface oil forecast. The emission factors for crude oil burning over water are compiled by reanalyzing data from
previous in-situ ocean oil burning measurements, EPA emission factor documents, and fossil fuel emission report. The
CMAQ simulation results will be compared with available observations to assess the impacts of the oil spill on regional air
quality with specific focus on ozone, PM2.5 (particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) and
benzene.
Host : Dev Niyogi (dniyogi@purdue.edu)
CO-SPONSORED BY: CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY CENTER