Quantifying greenhouse gas and air quality pollutant emissions using airborne measurements
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Date
2023
Authors
Peischl, Jeffrey W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
The composition of the atmosphere affects the health and well-being of people around the world. Air quality is a leading risk factor for mortality in the world today, and climate change may have a similar impact in the future. Knowledge of the magnitude of trace gas emissions to the atmosphere is necessary for policy makers who wish to most effectively reduce emissions that lead to harmful air quality or climate change. This knowledge typically starts with an inventory, where activity data are multiplied by emission factors to arrive at total emissions. Inventories are often used by policy makers to determine what emissions are and how they may be effectively reduced. Inventories are also used by scientists to model the effects of greenhouse gases on climate and the effects of ozone or particulate matter production on air quality. Scientific advancement in these areas in turn informs policy. Therefore, verifying inventories is necessary so that policy makers can make the most informed decisions to mitigate the negative atmospheric impacts of human activities.
Here, I review multiple techniques used to verify inventories with measurements from trace gas analyzers installed aboard aircraft. The techniques are: (1) comparing an inventory emission ratio of two gases using atmospheric enhancement ratios; (2) comparing spatially broad airborne measurements to a local, in situ study using an atmospheric mixing model; (3) quantifying relative emissions using atmospheric enhancement ratios; and (4) directly quantifying emissions using airborne data. These techniques have been used to verify the accuracy of inventories and to reveal where improvements to inventories can be made.
Description
Keywords
Emissions , Greenhouse gas , Air quality
Citation
Peischl, J. W. 2023. Quantifying greenhouse gas and air quality pollutant emissions using airborne measurements. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.