Title: Sources of Organic Particulate Matter in Houston: Evidence from DISCOVER-AQ Data, Modeling and Experiments
Institution(s) Represented: The University of Texas at Austin - Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz, Environ - Greg Yarwood, University of California Riverside - Gookyoung Heo
Lead PI: Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz
AQRP Project Manager: Elena McDonald-Buller
TCEQ Project Liaison: Shantha Daniel
Awarded Amount: $300,000.00
Abstract
Sources of Organic Particulate Matter in Houston: Evidence from DISCOVER-AQ Data, Modeling and Experiments
The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently lowered the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) from 15 to 12 µg m-3. This new annual standard brings the Houston region near to non-attainment for PM2.5, underlining the importance of understanding the composition and sources of PM2.5 in Houston. Recent measurements made during the month of September indicate that a majority of PM2.5 in the Houston region is composed of organic material. An improved understanding of Houston organic aerosol is therefore essential and will directly benefit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in understanding how to manage Houston's air quality.
Project 14-024 will focus on improving our understanding of the contributions of intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOC) to formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). IVOCs, specifically large alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are largely excluded from current emission inventories because these compounds fall between the definitions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and primary organic PM2.5. Emissions of IVOC are expected to be high in Houston, due to the combination of petrochemical industry and mobile source emissions, and the contributions of IVOC to SOA appear to be important but underestimated. Work will include analysis of recently collected ambient data during DISCOVER-AQ on PM concentration and composition, new environmental chamber experiments on the SOA formation potential of IVOC, and photochemical modeling of the Houston region. Modeling of the formation of SOA from VOC and IVOC precursors will use a new state of the art approach based on the Volatility Basis Set (VBS) that has recently been implemented in the Comprehensive Air-quality Model with extensions (CAMx).
Executive Summary: projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 Executive Summary.pdf
Work Plan: projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 Scope.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Jun 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Jul 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Aug 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Sep 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Oct 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Nov 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Dec 2014.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Jan 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Feb 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Mar 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Apr 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR May 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Jun 2015.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 MTR Jul 2015.pdf
QAPP: projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 QAPP.pdf
Final Report: projectinfoFY14_15\14-024\14-024 Final Report.pdf
