Measurements and Modelling for Advancing Knowledge of NMVOC Concentrations in Urban Air

Volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are trace gases of anthropogenic and biogenic sources. They are important precursors for the formation of secondary pollutants, such as ozone and secondary organic aerosol, which is a component of particulate matter. Some NMVOCs, such as benzene, also have direct adverse effects on health. The UrbanVOC project brings together expertise in measurements, modelling and emissions to determine the role of NMVOCs in urban air pollution more precisely. There is a lack of measurements of NMVOCs in urban areas. This limits our understanding of the contributions of source sectors - including solvents and motor vehicles - to total NMVOC emissions. Additionally, the limited number of individual NMVOCs typically monitored restricts the accuracy of source contribution profiles and the representation of NMVOCs in emission inventories. Emission inventories are critical input for air quality models and important tools for atmospheric science research and policy advice on the assessment and mitigation of air pollution. These research gaps limit our capacity to evaluate the performance of models in capturing NMVOCs.

Measurement campaigns to enable attribution of pollutants

In the project "Measurements and Modelling for Advancing Knowledge of NMVOC Concentrations in Urban Air and Associated Emission Sources in Berlin and Barcelona" (UrbanVOC), researchers pool their expertise in measurements, modelling, and emissions to systematically address key research gaps. Coordinated measurement campaigns in Berlin and Barcelona will enable researchers to identify sources of air pollution (source apportionment analysis) and provide new insights into sector-specific contributions and NMVOC speciation. The collected data and source apportionment results will also support the assessment of NMVOC representation in emission inventories. Two state-of-the-art air quality models will be run and evaluated at regional and local scales using the campaign data and the improved emissions inventory information. Conducting campaigns in two cities and with two models will enable comparison and sensitivity analyses that extend the level of knowledge beyond what would be possible without this collaboration. The results will be of benefit to the European research community.