Mathematical modeling of the formation of nitrogen-containing air pollutants. 1. Evaluation of an Eulerian photochemical model

Abstract

A grid-based, Eulerian airshed model has been used to
\nstudy the formation and control of gas- and aerosol-phase
\nnitrogen-containing air pollutants. The performance of
\nthe model was assessed by comparison against field measurements made for this purpose in the Los Angeles area
\nover the period 30-31 August 1982. Model predictions for
\nO_3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) concentrations are in
\ngood agreement with observations. The absolute values
\nof the total inorganic nitrate, NH_3, and HNO_3 predictions
\non the average are within a few ppb of the observations.
\nLacking an inventory of ionic and alkaline aerosol emissions, accurate apportionment of total inorganic nitrate
\nbetween the aerosol and gas phases is not possible at
\ncoastal locations. At midbasin sites like Anaheim, where
\nNH_4NO_3 is the dominant nitrate aerosol species present,
\nthe aerosol nitrate levels predicted by the model are in
\ngood agreement with observed values.