A hybrid model for better predicting capabilities under parallel wind conditions for NOx concentrations from highways in Ireland

Atmospheric dispersion models based on the Gaussian line source formulation tend to give poor results for low wind speed and parallel wind directions. Certain dispersion models like HIWAY-2 have an inbuilt dispersion algorithm to adjust in such situations but no correction exists for mathematical based Gaussian dispersion models. We evaluate the performance of a hybrid model a mathematical model, to assess its suitability as an alternative to the Gaussian based models.     

Development of models for predicting roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations and their evaluation against datasets measured in Dublin,Ireland

Different methods for predicting levels of roadside NO₂ from NO_x concentrations have been proposed. Prior work suggests that either a linear or a logarithmic relationship exists among the roadside NO₂ and NO_x concentrations. We modify and compare those methods with new formulations based on the principles of the original methods for datasets pertaining to Dublin. A new relationship based on the power law is developed to better model the decay of the ratio of (NO₂/NO_x)_road ratio with increasing NO_x concentration. These formulations are compared and examined at two study sites: at an intermittently congested urban street canyon and a free-flowing motorway.     

The impacts of inter-vehicle spacing on in-vehicle air pollution concentrations in idling urban traffic conditions

The influence of inter-vehicle spacing on the in-vehicle air pollution exposure of car commuters in heavy traffic conditions was investigated, both experimentally and numerically. An experimental investigation was carried out into the effect, on in-vehicle air pollution exposure, of maintaining a distance of approximately 2 m to the preceding vehicle in congested idling traffic conditions compared to that of an identical vehicle maintaining a distance of approximately 1 m. In-vehicle VOC and PM_2.5 concentrations revealed that a 19–31% reduction in exposure at the larger inter-vehicle spacing. A computational fluid dynamics model was calibrated using the experimental data and used to prediction car exposure under different conditions by varying certain key parameters. Agreement between the experimental and predicted data of 82% was achieved. The results show a significant drop in pollutant concentrations occurred within the first 2 m of their emission from the preceding vehicles exhaust.     

Spatial variation of roadside C2–C6 hydrocarbon concentrations during low wind speeds: Validation of CALINE4 and COPERT III modelling

The CALINE4 model is widely used to predict the effect of vehicle emissions on ambient concentrations close to roadways. It requires an evaluation of the rate at which different air pollutants are emitted by vehicles, taking into account things such as vehicle flow, velocity, type and age. For Europe the databases of the COmputer Program to calculate Emissions from Road Transport (COPERT) are combined with local vehicle details to obtain site-specific emission factors for dispersion modelling. The ability of CALINE4 to predict the spatial variation of hydrocarbon concentrations downwind of a motorway is assessed, as is the accuracy of COPERT III composite emission factors for several hydrocarbon compounds. The concentrations of seven traffic-associated compounds is found at three locations downwind and upwind of a motorway. Modelled and measured background-corrected downwind concentrations are compared on three bases: daily peak hour concentrations, mean concentrations, and a set of model evaluation parameters.     

Spatial variation of roadside C2–C6 hydrocarbon concentrations during low wind speeds: A note

This Note describes an investigation of spatial variations in the ambient concentrations of hydrocarbons in the vicinity of a suburban motorway during five consecutive weekday morning peak periods of unusually warm and calm conditions. Background-corrected downwind concentrations representing the influence of the motorway source were found to be strongly dependant on wind speed and direction. The ambient ethene-to-acetylene concentration ratio was greatest close to the roadside and the effect of wind speed on the ratio had different average profiles for main wind directions due to different rates of dispersal. Higher values were obtained using background-corrected concentrations.