Methodologies for Estimating Disaggregated Anthropogenic Emissions—Application to a Coastal Mediterranean Region of Spain

ABSTRACT

Regional estimates of both anthropogenic and biogenic emissions are important inputs for models of atmospheric chemistry. A disaggregated emissions inventory of all relevant pollutants for an area of 100 x 100 km² centered in Burriana (Castellon, Spain) has been worked out. Time and spatial resolutions were hourly and 1 x 1 km², respectively. Estimates were made for all relevant sources of anthropogenic emissions. The pollutants considered were SO₂, NO_x, NMVOCs (nonmethane volatile organic compounds), CH₄, CO, CO₂, N₂O, and NH₃. Thus, the emissions inventory includes up to 18 different NMVOCs. Emissions were computed for a typical sunny workday in June when strong photochemical activity could be expected.

A “top-down” methodology was applied, taking as a starting point official annual and provincial estimates based on CORINAIR emission factors. This procedure is a very useful tool, particularly for those cases where a lack of sufficient local detailed information about the main emission-generating activities, such as road traffic, makes the use of a "bottom-up" approximation inadvisable. Moreover, updating these emission inventories is easier and they could be used to evaluate the impact of possible abatement strategies.