Emissions Inventories, Models, and Processes

This session is dedicated to the application of innovative methodologies for preparing and processing emissions for air quality modeling applications. Techniques to improve estimates of wild fires, dust and biogenic emissions, and temporal allocation of anthropogenic sources are of special interest for this session. Session topics include:

• Updates to inventories and emissions processing
• Emissions from alternative fuel use (e.g., bio-fuels in the transportation sector)
• Emissions from aviation activities
• Projection of emissions to future-year scenarios
  Inverse modeling

Model Development

Work in recent years has vastly improved the science of air quality and methodologies for modeling and analyzing the distribution of air pollutants at various temporal and spatial scales. Such advances were motivated by the results from the multitude of applications and evaluations of air quality models that addressed various research, development and regulatory modeling issues. We seek abstracts that illustrate innovative methodologies and process algorithms in air quality modeling. Session topics include:

• Adjoint models
• Urban-scale and fine scale modeling and applications
• New mechanisms of chemical reactions and processes for air quality modeling
• Modeling assimilation techniques
• Dust models

Model Evaluation and Analysis

Work in recent years has vastly improved the science of air quality and methodologies for modeling and analyzing the distribution of air pollutants at various temporal and spatial scales. Such advances were motivated by the results from the multitude of applications and evaluations of air quality models that addressed various research, development and regulatory modeling issues. We seek abstracts that illustrate innovative methodologies and process algorithms in air quality modeling. Session topics include:

• Adjoint models
• Urban-scale and fine scale modeling and applications
• New mechanisms of chemical reactions and processes for air quality modeling
• Modeling assimilation techniques
• Dust models

Modeling to Support Exposure and Health Studies and Community-scale Applications

The purpose of this session is to present modeling approaches for various applications ranging from exposure assessments in support of health studies to near-source assessments such as near-roadway studies or community-scale applications. A variety of models can provide these detailed, spatially, and temporally-resolved concentrations in support of environmental health studies. Models also provide an opportunity to examine how changes in emissions affect near-road air quality or other near-to-source impacts. Local governments and community groups may be interested in “what if” scenarios such as how to optimize traffic patterns around heavily polluted areas. For example, when schools are located near roadways, models can help to examine potential impacts on children’s health or the relative contribution of school-related exposure compared to, or combined with, home-related exposure.

The topics for this session will involve development, evaluation and application of models with the following focal areas:

• Air quality modeling for exposure assessments in support of environmental health studies
• Dispersion model development for applications with near-source complexities
• Evaluation and inter-comparison of models for near roadway applications
• Decision support tools to quantify risk of human exposure

Regulatory Modeling and SIP Applications

Air quality models continue to be important tools for guiding decision makers in preparing State Implementation Plan (SIP) applications to set standards for compliance. We seek abstracts that describe how air quality models are used in specific applications, with particular emphasis on the types of sensitivity and diagnostic analyses employed and on the model evaluation studies that were conducted for various applications.

This session’s topics include (but are not limited to):

• Benefit assessment of air pollution control
• Statistical analyses and evaluation metrics
• Sensitivity and Source Apportionment
• Model intercomparison
• Socioeconomic and health impacts

Remote Sensing /Measurements Studies/New Sensors Technologies

Papers in this session are devoted to analyzing data from both conventional and remote-sensing observational platforms. In particular, presentations are invited on the integration of data collected from different platforms, and on the use of new satellite data products in air quality modeling.  Additionally, new sensor technologies, due to their characteristics (e.g., low cost, small size, high portability), are becoming increasingly important for individual exposure assessment, especially since this kind of instrument can provide measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution, which is a notable advantage when approaching assessment of exposure to environmental contaminants. This session will also provide information about advancements on the developments and use of sensor technology for air quality and health studies.

Session topics include:

• Satellite processing products and its use
• Monitoring air pollution and meteorology
• Field measurement studies
• Laboratory smog chamber experiments
• Aerosol detection and sampling
• Novel air sensor technologies for monitoring air quality and health conditions
• Evaluation and validation of sensor performance
• Application of sensor network on air quality, exposure and health studies

Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Observing and Modeling

Characteristics of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL) are important for the atmospheric energy and water cycles because the fluxes of momentum, heat, and water vapour between the atmosphere and the surfaces of the earth all pass through the PBL, being carried and modified by mixing processes here. Since these mixing processes mostly owe their efficiency to the mechanisms of boundary layer turbulence, a proper quantitative description of the turbulence processes becomes essential for a satisfying description of the fluxes between the surface and the atmosphere.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Boundary Layer Modeling and Parametrization
• Marine Boundary Layer
• Pollutant and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Air Quality and Human Health
• Exchanges and Interactions Between the Biosphere and Atmosphere
• In situ Measurements (e.g. UAS, Balloons)
• Emerging Technology for Observations

Environmental Odours

Most of the research on atmospheric dispersion is concerned with the examination of mean concentrations over a given time, typically minutes or hours in length. However, many studies have shown that the mean concentration field alone is not sufficient for estimating the potential hazards from pollutant releases in the atmosphere, for example in the case of flammability, malodour nuisance and, often, toxicity. Odour is an increasingly sensitive issue and complaints of odour nuisance emitted by domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants. The problems associated with malodour nuisance occur with sufficient frequency and severity to warrant regulatory intervention. It is therefore important to develop, validate and use appropriate dispersion modelling approaches in order to investigate odour dispersion and provide regulatory authorities with relevant information.

• Odour perception and odour impact
• Odour regulation and policy
• Odour formation and emission
• Odour dispersion modelling

Management of Gaseous Emissions in Sewage Treatment Plants

Sewage treatment results in the emission of a range of gases, many of which can be odorants (e.g. hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, ammonia, amines, volatile organic compounds), greenhouse gases – GHG (e.g. methane, nitrous oxide) and atmospheric pollutants in general (gases from biogas flaring or exhaust gases from combined heat and power engines, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides). Therefore, the control of such emissions by means of preventive and/or corrective actions is essential to guarantee the environmental sustainability and the well-being of workers and of the surrounding population of Sewage Treatment Plants -STPs. In this context, we are looking for abstracts that illustrate the development, validation or use of dispersion modeling methods and suitable techniques/technologies to avoid/control gaseous emissions in STPs. Conceptual efforts demonstrating or exploring decision support systems and policies will be covered as well.

This session topics include:

• Carbon footprint, measurements and observational case studies on GHG emissions in STPs
• Techniques and technologies for controlling GHG emissions in STPs
• Measurements and observational case studies on odour and corrosion in anaerobic systems
• Techniques and technologies for controlling odour and corrosion in anaerobic systems
• Measurement and control of gas emissions in biogas and sludge management systems
• Gas dispersion modeling in STPs
• Regulation and policy of gaseous emissions in STPs

Air Pollution Control

Air Pollution Control is an important area for the air pollution issue aiming to reduce or eliminate the emission into the atmosphere of substances that can affect the air quality. The performance of the techniques used to control the emissions must be effective in order to achieve the legal limitations imposed by the country or states government for the protection of the environment and public health. Therefore, with the increase of the restrictions of emission, the Research for efficiency improvements of these techniques is a very important subject. Also it is crucial to develop technologies with low Capital and Operational costs. This session is about the studies dedicated to the Air Pollution Control innovative techniques to control the emissions of particulate and gases. This session topics include:

• Particulate Control
• SOx Control
• NOx Control
• Acid Gas Control
• Dioxin and Furan Control
• Mercury Control
• VOC Control

Air Pollution at Critical Infrastructure Sites and Its Influence for the Society

There are some critical infrastructures that are very important as its longer inoperability may cause social and economic problems. The air quality is associated with this topic as there are rules (established by Environmental Protection Agencies) that must be obeyed and values above a threshold can stop its operation. This session intends to present and discuss what are the measurements and modeling studies that are currently being done in Brazil and in the world on the theme. The topics for this session will involve measurements and model development with the following focal areas:

• Air quality modeling for exposure assessments in support of environmental health studies
• Dispersion model development for applications at critical infrastructures like dams, bridges, harbors, space centers, airports, etc