Scottish Pollution Mapping

Nicola Brophynicola.brophy@aeat.co.uk

Background

• AEA’s Pollution Climate Mapping team produce UK maps on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations

• 2004 & 2005 – Scotland Specific– Scottish meteorological data

– Scotland only AURN sites for calibration of the model

• Mixed results– Particularly for gravimetric PM10

• Refocusing efforts

Introduction to the Model

Components of the model:

• Point source model– Environment Agency and SEPA

database

• Area source model– Dispersion kernel

• Long range transport and secondary inorganic aerosols

http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat09/0709241126_dd12005mapsrep_v2.pdf

Examples of Mapping Results

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Measured annual mean NOx (µg m-3, as NO2)

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AURN Background (Scottish model)AURN Roadside (Scottish model)Verification sites Background (Scottish model)Verification sites Roadside (Scottish model)AURN Background (National model)AURN Roadside (National model)y = xy = x + 30%y = x - 30%

Verification of Scottish NOx background and roadside

annual mean 2005 model (g m‑3 as NO2)

Scottish model NOx background annual mean 2005 map for Scotland (g m‑3 as NO2)

Further Work on Scottish Mapping Project

• 2006– Scotland specific verification

• 2007– Scotland specific gravimetric particulate maps due to increased number

of sites – 1 year only

– To include PM10 and PM2.5

– Scotland specific verification for other pollutants

Model developments

• Improvements and changes to Models– PM10

− Residual concentrations reduced− More certainty in sea salt concentrations− Secondary inorganic aerosols− Iron

– Change to calibration− Singles relationship for calibration− Different types of dispersion kernels for differing land types

– Biomass!

Biomass Burning

• Government committed 15% of all energy to be from renewable sources by 2020

• Defra and the Scottish Government assessing the air quality risks from burning biomass

• AEA developing projection maps for 2010, 2015 and 2020

• Scenarios – Uptake of 5-7% biomass burning

– Fuel replacement

– Regionally specific variations

• Pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NOx and NO2

Questions…

nicola.brophy@aeat.co.ukandrew.kent@aeat.co.uk

http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat09/0709241126_dd12005mapsrep_v2.pdf