Title: Airborne NMHC measurements under various pollution conditions

Authors: Josef Dommen, Andre S.H. Prevot, Irene Polo, Bruno Neininger, Martin Baumle

Addresses: Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. MetAir Company, Langgstrasse 19, 8308 Illnau, Switzerland. MetAir Company, Langgstrasse 19, 8308 Illnau, Switzerland

Abstract: Traffic is one of the main emission sources of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), which play a key role in the formation of ozone. Over the last years, airborne measurements of non-methane hydrocarbons have been performed with an on-line gas chromatograph over large cities such as Vienna and Milano, the polluted Lombardy region and moderately polluted regions such as the Swiss Plateau and alpine areas. This set of data has been analysed with respect to pollution level, composition, reactivity and contribution of emission sources in the different areas. The measured hydrocarbon concentrations coincide with the emission strengths given by the emission inventories of the respective regions. The alpine Mesolcina valley south of the Alps is strongly influenced by advected air polluted with hydrocarbons. The relative concentration of individual species to the sum of the measured hydrocarbons is similar in all regions, but show a few peculiarities specific to some regions.

Keywords: non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC); volatile organic compounds (VOC); air pollution urban and regional.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2001.001966

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2001 Vol.27 No.1/2/3/4, pp.217-227

Published online: 15 Aug 2003 *

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