Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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10.5194/acpd-9-5371-2009
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5371/2009/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5371/2009/acpd-9-5371-2009.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5371/2009/acpd-9-5371-2009.pdf
5371
5422
2009-03-02
Modelling the impacts of ammonia emissions reductions on North American air quality
P. A. Makar
paul.makar@ec.gc.ca
M. D. Moran
Q. Zheng
S. Cousineau
M. Sassi
A. Duhamel
M. Besner
D. Davignon
L.-P. Crevier
V. S. Bouchet
Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Air Quality Model Applications Section, Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
A unified regional air-quality modelling system (AURAMS) was used to
investigate the effects of reductions in ammonia emissions on regional air
quality, with a focus on particulate-matter formation. Three simulations of
one-year duration were performed for a North American domain: (1) a
base-case simulation using 2002 Canadian and US national emissions
inventories augmented by a more detailed Canadian emissions inventory for
agricultural ammonia; (2) a 30% North-American-wide reduction in
agricultural ammonia emissions; and (3) a 50% reduction in Canadian
beef-cattle ammonia emissions. The simulations show that a 30%
continent-wide reduction in agricultural ammonia emissions lead to
reductions in median hourly ±2.5 mass of <1 μg m<sup>−3</sup> on an
annual basis. The atmospheric response to these emission reductions displays
marked seasonal variations, and on even shorter time scales the impacts of
the emissions reductions are highly episodic: 95-percentile hourly
±2.5 mass decreases can be up to a factor of six larger than the
median values.
<br><br>
A key finding of the modelling work is the linkage between gas and aqueous
chemistry and transport; reductions in ammonia emissions affect gaseous
ammonia concentrations close to the emissions site, but substantial impacts
on particulate matter and atmospheric deposition often occur at considerable
distances downwind, with particle nitrate being the main vector of
ammonia/um transport. Ammonia emissions reductions therefore have
trans-boundary and possibly trans-oceanic consequences downwind.
Calculations of critical-load exceedances for sensitive ecosystems in Canada
suggest that ammonia emission reductions will have a minimal impact on
current ecosystem acidification within Canada, but may have a substantial
impact on future ecosystem acidification. The 50% Canadian beef-cattle
ammonia emissions reduction scenario was used to examine model sensitivity
to uncertainties in the new Canadian agricultural ammonia emissions
inventory, and the simulation results suggest that further work is needed to
improve the emissions inventory for this particular sector.
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