Title
C2-C5 hydrocarbon measurements in the Netherlands 1981-1991
Author
Roemer, M.
Builtjes, P.
Esser, P.
Guicherit, R.
Thijsse, T.
Publication year
1999
Abstract
Measurements of C2-C5 hydrocarbons on an hourly basis at the TNO site in Delft from 1982 to 1984 and at Moerdijk over the period 1981-1991 are presented. In combination with meteorological data (wind direction and wind speed) the Delft and Moerdijk series are evaluated to identify source categories, annual variations, background concentrations and trends. The C2-C5 hydrocarbon concentrations at Delft and Moerdijk are determined mainly by emission characteristics and meteorological dispersion; the dominant sources are relatively nearby and atmospheric degradation is not of much importance. Under conditions of high wind speed the concentrations measured at Moerdijk in the marine sector are close to the Atlantic background concentrations in winter and somewhat above this in summer. The continental background concentrations are higher than the marine background concentrations by a factor of almost two. The annual variation of acetylene is more pronounced than that of the other hydrocarbons, most likely due to a different seasonal variation in acetylene emissions. The annual variation of propene is smoother, indicating stronger sources in summer than in winter. This feature of propene is observed in continental as well as in marine sectors. The observations show that at Moerdijk C2-C4 concentrations measured in Rijnmond sector have decreased considerably since the early 1980s, corresponding with changes in emissions in that area. Averaged over all wind directions the trend of all species is downward, but for acetylene the trend is significant at a 95% confidence interval. The acetylene concentrations show an annual downward trend of 3% during the 1980s, supporting other estimates of decreasing hydrocarbon emissions from traffic over this period at the same rate. Measurements of C2-C5 hydrocarbons on an hourly basis at the TNO site in Delft from 1982 to 1984 and at Moerdijk over the period 1981-1991 are presented. In combination with meteorological data (wind direction and wind speed) the Delft and Moerdijk series are evaluated to identify source categories, annual variations, background concentrations and trends. The C2-C5 hydrocarbon concentrations at Delft and Moerdijk are determined mainly by emission characteristics and meteorological dispersion; the dominant sources are relatively nearby and atmospheric degradation is not of much importance. Under conditions of high wind speed the concentrations measured at Moerdijk in the marine sector are close to the Atlantic background concentrations in winter and somewhat above this in summer. The continental background concentrations are higher than the marine background concentrations by a factor of almost two. The annual variation of acetylene is more pronounced than that of the other hydrocarbons, most likely due to a different seasonal variation in acetylene emissions. The annual variation of propene is smoother, indicating stronger sources in summer than in winter. This feature of propene is observed in continental as well as in marine sectors. The observations show that at Moerdijk C2-C4 concentrations measured in Rijnmond sector have decreased considerably since the early 1980s, corresponding with changes in emissions in that area. Averaged over all wind directions the trend of all species is downward, but for acetylene the trend is significant at a 95% confidence interval. The acetylene concentrations show an annual downward trend of 3% during the 1980s, supporting other estimates of decreasing hydrocarbon emissions from traffic over this period at the same rate. NB: Correction in 1995
Subject
Annual variation
Background concentrations
C2-C5 hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbon ratios
Trends
Acetylene
Atmospheric composition
Climate change
Gas emissions
Propylene
Wind effects
Hydrocarbon ratios
Atmospheric chemistry
acetylene
hydrocarbon
propylene
atmospheric pollution
hydrocarbon
pollutant source
trend analysis
air monitoring
air pollution
article
Atlantic Ocean
atmospheric transport
exhaust gas
Netherlands
priority journal
seasonal variation
summer
traffic
wind
winter
Netherlands
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:51b502af-cc98-4df8-8e00-785ba1367cd0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1352-2310(97)00130-1
TNO identifier
235140
Publisher
Elsevier Science Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom
ISSN
1352-2310
Source
Atmospheric Environment, 33 (33), 3579-3595
Bibliographical note
NB in 1995 is hier een correctie op gekomen
Document type
article