V. R. Kotamarthi
Bldg. 203, ER
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, IL 60439
630-252-7164
fax 630-252-5498
vrkotamarthi@anl.gov

We seek to analyze the ACP field measurements in urban and rural air masses in order to evaluate process scale chemical kinetic mechanisms, using box and trajectory photochemical models. The scientific aim of the modeling activity is to further the understanding of the chemistry and distribution of oxidants in the urban and rural air masses by focussing on such key unresolved processes as: (a) the importance to oxidant chemistry of rapid surface reactions cycling NO_x and HO_x reservoir species to NO_x and HO_x; (b) different HC lumping schemes and their effect on the NO_y and HO_x partitioning as it relates to the formation of oxidants; (c) oxygenated hydrocarbons and their impact on determining the urban and rural boundary layer oxidant levels. Additionally, we also evaluate the measured vertical distribution of trace gases in the PBL and investigate the resulting affect on the amount of pollutants exported to the rest of the atmosphere by using a higher order PBL turbulence mixing model and a cumulus convective mixing model with chemistry. A significant fraction of our proposed work involves analyzing data collected during the ACP field campaigns to identify potential case studies for further investigation. We continue our ongoing analysis of the Phoenix data set followed by the 1999 SOS study in Nashville. Data from the Texas air quality 2000 field experiment, Salt Lake City and from the Puerto Rico, CCOS experiments currently in the planning stages will be analyzed as they become available.

Some further information can be found in the viewgraphs from a presentation at the Atmospheric Sciences Program Annual Meeting held in February 2001.