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Improving Simulations of Fine Dust Surface Concentrations Over The Western United States By Optimizing The Particle Size Distribution

Abstract

To improve estimates of remote contributions of dust to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the western United States, new dust particle size distributions (PSDs) based upon scale-invariant fragmentation theory (Kok_PSD) with constraints from in situ measurements (IMP_PSD) are implemented in a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem). Compared to initial simulations, this leads to reductions in the mass of emitted dust particles with radii <1.8?µm by 40%–60%. Consequently, the root-mean-square error in simulated fine dust concentrations compared to springtime surface observations in the western United States is reduced by 67%–81%. The ratio of simulated fine to coarse PM mass is also improved, which is not achievable by reductions in total dust emissions. The IMP_PSD best represents the PSD of dust transported from remote sources and reduces modeled PM2.5 concentrations up to 5?µg/m3 over the western United States, which is important when considering sources contributing to nonattainment of air quality standards.

Article / Publication Data
Active/Online
YES
Volume
40
Available Metadata
Accepted On
May 27, 2013
DOI ↗
Fiscal Year
Publication Name
Geophysical Research Letters
Published On
June 01, 2013
Print Volume
40
Print Number
12
Page Range
3270–3275
Submitted On
March 21, 2013
URL ↗

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Authors

Authors who have authored or contributed to this publication.

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