Smog Chamber Simulation of Los Angeles Pollutant Transport

Abstract

The body of information presented in this paper is directed to those individuals concerned with the effect of urban pollution on downwind areas. In the absence of any evidence, it has been widely assumed that increasing NO _x emissions have caused oxidant levels to increase downwind of Los Angeles, i.e., Riverside and San Bernardino. This smog chamber study simulated pollutant transport from Los Angeles to the downwind areas by irradiating a typical Los Angeles hydrocarbon/NO _x mixture for extended periods of time. The smog chamber experiments were extended to 22 hours to obtain an integrated light intensity equal to that which occurs in the Los Angeles area. The effects of variations of nitrogen oxide emissions on an aged air mass were examined. The results show that downwind oxidant levels are only slightly affected by large changes in NO _x emissions. However, it is clear that reduced nitrogen oxide emissions will lead to an increase in oxidant in downtown Los Angeles.