Modelling of emissions, transport, and chemistry for air quality management within urban street canyons

Dai, Yuqing ORCID: 0000-0002-8850-9527 (2023). Modelling of emissions, transport, and chemistry for air quality management within urban street canyons. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

Preview

Dai2023PhD.pdf
Text - Accepted Version
Available under License All rights reserved.
Download (15MB) | Preview

Abstract

This thesis presents a novel, flexible multi-box framework (MBM-FleX) for simulating the transportation and distribution of chemical species in street canyons with varying aspect ratios. The model is computationally resource-efficient and effective in capturing temporal and spatial patterns of reactive species, allowing for comprehensive sensitivity tests to investigate fast non-linear chemistry at the street scale.
The studies within this thesis demonstrate the importance of considering complex photochemistry and shading effects on reactive species in urban canyons, emphasizing the influence of volatile organic compound (VOC) free radical chemistry on interconversion of odd-oxygen species. In addition, the research highlights the significance of detailed VOC chemistry for regulatory air quality modelling in street canyons, showing that neglecting VOC chemistry may lead to underestimation of nitrogen dioxide (NO\(_2\)) concentrations. A field monitoring campaign conducted in a deep street canyon in Naples, Italy, supports the model performance and showcases the impact of urban morphology on air quality. The findings emphasize the importance of considering vertical distribution when assessing health impacts and developing air quality control strategies.
Overall, the thesis advances the understanding of air quality dynamics in urban canyons and presents a valuable tool for effective air quality management in intricate urban environments.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):