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Overview
Basics
Basics
There is growing concern about the effects of ozone (O3) on air quality in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Ozone levels in the Tahoe Basin have been increasing and have led to exceedances of current California air quality standards. This trend can have serious implications with respect to human and ecosystem health. This area is currently designated as a nonattainment-transitional zone for O3 by the California Air Resources Board. In response to the need for a robust emission control strategy, a comprehensive meteorological and air quality modeling study has been completed to investigate the characteristics and causes of the episodes of elevated ozone.
Completed
2011
2012
2013
$142,628
Alan Heyvaert (alan.heyvaert@dri.edu)
10/31/2017
10/31/2017
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| Location Information | Location Notes |
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Organizations
EIP Details
EIP Basics
EIP Basics
04.01.01.0127 - P095: Ozone Modeling System and Emission Control Strategies for the Lake Tahoe Basin
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
No expected performance measures set for this project.
Reported Performance Measures
Reported Performance Measures
No annual performance measure accomplishments entered for this project.
Funding
Expected Funding
Expected Funding
$142,628
$142,628
$0
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (Pacific Southwest Research Station) (USFS - PSW) | $142,628 | $142,628 | $0 |
| Grand Total | $142,628 | $142,628 | $0 |
Reported Expenditures
Reported Expenditures
| Total | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (Pacifi... | $142,628 | $47,544 | $47,542 | $47,542 |
| Grand Total | $142,628 | $47,544 | $47,542 | $47,542 |
Photos
Other Details
Watersheds
No watersheds set for this project.
Threshold Categories
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Growing concerns about the effects of ozone (O3) on air quality in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Local and Regional Plans
No Local and Regional Plans set for this project.
Related Projects
Related Projects
No Related Projects set for this project.
External Links
No external links entered.
Notes
Notes
| 07/16/2017 9:26 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Match Funding: $ 129,891 | ||
| 07/16/2017 9:26 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Objectives: The main objectives were completed as follows: • We have developed a complex modeling system (Lake Tahoe Air Quality Modeling System /LTAQMS/ consisting of a meteorological model (WRF), emission models (SMOKE and MOVES), and a photochemical model CMAQ (Fig. 1). • We used the EPA National Emission Inventory (EPA NEI) for 2005, which has been fully evaluated. • We have validated the ozone modeling system on an ozone episode recorded in August 2009 at the Lake Tahoe station. • We have performed sensitivity simulations for various emission scenarios and determined what aspects of the planned cost effective control strategies might be cost effective for the Lake Tahoe basin to control ozone levels. |
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| 07/16/2017 9:25 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Findings: • This project developed a comprehensive modeling system consisting of meteorological (WRF), emission (SMOKE and MOVES), and photochemical (CMAQ) modeling as well as backward and forward trajectory analysis (HYSPLIT). An analysis of the measured time series indicates possible problems with wind measurements. • The CMAQ results with inputs from SMOKE and MOVES were evaluated using ozone measurements at the Lake Tahoe area (South Lake Tahoe and Echo Summit) and in Sacramento (T-street). At South Lake Tahoe and Echo Summit the model shows a correct order of magnitude and gradual increasing trend during the episode, but underestimates the ozone concentration extremes. It is encouraging that the model at the Sacramento station showed favorable comparison with respect to the ozone peaks and diurnal variation. • The CMAQ model results were evaluated for the South Lake Tahoe station using EPA recommended statistical measures: the mean bias (MB), the normalized mean bias (NMB), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the normalized mean error (NME). The model statistics were within the EPA recommended values for NMB for all runs, while the values for NME are right at or above the recommended value. The emissions which do not have significant impact on the simulated ozone (area, point, and to some extent off-road) all have parameters similar to the baseline results. The impact can be seen for the mobile emissions (except for off-road emissions) and biogenic emissions. Halving of the emissions generally worsens the statistics, which indicates that the emissions are most likely not overestimated. Doubling the emissions, however, produces smaller errors which indicate that the emissions, at least in the southern part of the Lake Tahoe Basin, are possibly underestimated. The reduction of emissions for the whole period yields a change in the bias of only 1 ppbV. Obviously, even large reductions in the emissions would not significantly impact ozone peak reductions in the simulations. *** See www.fs.fed.us/PSW/partnerships/tahoescience for additional findings. |
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| 07/16/2017 9:24 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Management Implications: • Based on this study, control strategies need to consider measures for the non-uniform reduction of regional emissions in order to improve air quality in the Tahoe area and selective measures for particular emission categories. • The control should focus on on-road emissions and biogenic sources as the major components impacting ozone concentrations in the Tahoe area. • The reduction in the surrounding areas should be focused on VOCs, while in the Tahoe area, reduction of both mobile (primary) and VOCs (secondary effect) should be considered. • Continuous monitoring should be extended to other sides of Lake Tahoe in addition to the Salt Lake Tahoe station. Special attention should be placed on the western ridges of the Tahoe basin where the model predicts significant concentrations during ozone episodes. The continuous monitoring should include major ozone pre-cursors including VOCs and NOx. • Good spatial coverage of meteorological monitoring (surface and upper air) is also needed as a crucial element to provide accurate inputs for the models and models’ evaluation. |