Estimates of Emissions and Chemical Lifetimes of NOx from Point Sources using OMI Retrievals

Abstract:

We use three different methods to estimate emissions of NOx from large point sources based on OMI retrievals. The results are evaluated against data from the Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS). The methods tested are: 1. Simple box model, 2. Two-dimensional Gaussian fit and 3. Exponentially-Modified Gaussian Fit. The sensitivity of the results to the plume speed and wind direction was explored by considering different ways of estimating these from wind measurements. The accuracy of the emissions estimates compared with the CEMS data was found to be variable from site to site. Furthermore, lifetimes obtained from some of the methods were found to be very short and are thought to be more representative of plume transport than of chemical transformation. We explore the strengths and weaknesses of the methods and consider avenues for improved estimates.