The document develops the preliminary scientific bases to elaborate the future National Ozone Plan. Source: MITECO
The researchers Xavier Querol, Jordi Massagué, Anna Canals, Andrés Alastuey, and Marten in ‘t Veld, from the Environmental Geochemistry and Atmospheric Research (EGAR) group, have led the new report “Scientific bases for a National Ozone Plan 2022” published by the General Subdirectorate for Clean Air and Industrial Sustainability of the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The document develops the preliminary scientific bases to elaborate a future National Ozone Plan.
The complexity of ozone (O3) formation and the development of pollution episodes have prompted the MITECO to commission leading researchers to a study to develop the scientific bases for the future elaboration of the future National Ozone Plan.
This pioneering work in Europe provides scientific information on the following key aspects and actions:
- Study of trends in ozone concentrations and related pollutants in the period 2008-2020.
- Identification of species of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with high contributions to the maximum ozone formation potential for its reduction of emissions.
- Carrying out airborne and surface measurement campaigns of key parameters in developing ozone pollution episodes, and integrating the results obtained regarding the phenomenology of ozone pollution episodes in different basins.
- Improvement of the ozone modelling tools based on the improvement of inventory and information of emissions and reproducibility of parameters key weather conditions during ozone pollution episodes.
- Modelling of ozone episodes. Configuration of the modeling system, the study of sensitivity to numerical resolution, meteorological conditions, and anthropogenic emissions. Evaluation of model results with observations in the different Autonomous Communities.
- Analysis of the contribution of sources to ozone levels. Calculation of the ozone contribution from European countries and North Africa to the Basins of interest and their relative importance at national levels.
- Quantification of the impact of the confinement by COVID-19 on emissions anthropogenic and ozone levels, at the national level using techniques of modeling.
- Modelling of specific scenarios to assess the effect of possible measures on ozone levels in Spain
The report has been financed by MITECO and led by the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)-National Supercomputing Center, the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Studies (CEAM), the University of the Basque Country (UPV), the Institute of Ceramic Technology (ITC), the University of Zaragoza, the University of Huelva, and the University of Aveiro.
Scientific Bases for a National Ozone Plan 2022
