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Project title

Understanding Ozone Levels in Ireland

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)

Lead Applicant

Liz Coleman

Project Abstract

Tropospheric O3 is an important air quality parameter, a key player in atmospheric chemistry and instrumental in greenhouse gas forcing. Consequently, the subject of ozone pollution warrants significant consideration in the construction of efficient pollution control measures. As a powerful and indiscriminate oxidising agent, O3 exhibits complex chemistry with nonlinear relationships between precursor emission and ozone formation. To evaluate efficacy of emission control to mitigate surface O3 pollution, it is vital to have a comprehensive understanding of factors contributing to surface O3, including precursor abundance, relative contributions of respective precursors, meteorological impact on transport and atmospheric chemistry. Ground-level O3 is monitored in Ireland by the EPA. A pollutant hazardous to human life even in very low concentration, human exposure to high ozone concentrations can induce adverse effects on human and ecosystem health, affecting mortality, hospitalisations, crop yields and food production The overall aim of this project is to assess the current state of knowledge regarding factors influencing ozone pollution relative to the Irish atmosphere by firstly reviewing the literature regarding factors influencing surface O3 in the North Atlantic region. We will then survey the available observational tools, both in-situ and satellite to monitor tropospheric O¬¬3 and precursors, identifying geographical gaps and scientific infrastructure needed to further our understanding of the formation and transport of O3, the emission and fate of O¬3 precursors. With input from leading scientific experts in air quality measurement and modelling, we will assess the capacity of current state-of-the art air-quality modelling and integrated assessment tools available to inform effective mitigation policy. A statistical analysis will be performed on O3 and precursor measurements in the Irish domain using both in situ measurements from national monitoring networks over Ireland and satellite measurements (TROPOMI), identifying trends and relationships between O3 and precursors in representative sites. We will compare measurements to model output from Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service and CTM source-apportionment models with the dual purpose of identifying instances of model-measurement discrepancies and quantifying dominant sources to Irish O3 levels as far as current model capacity will allow. This will allow us to determine contributions to ground O3 specific to spatial and temporal resolution relative to Irish policy, and consistent with health and crop metrics for O3 exposure, effectively downscaling open data and regional information to enable national policy response for better national outcomes for health, climate and economy. Finally, we will look at the IPCC Shared Socioeconomic Pathway emission scenarios in an Irish context, assessing the social impact associated with each pathway, and using the openly available modelled atmospheric composition data from the CMIP6 experiments, we will assess the impact that these emission changes and subsequent climate change will have on Irish O3 levels under these projections. Thus, we will improve the understanding of ozone levels and trends in Ireland, with a particular focus on the contribution of methane to the formation of ozone and the interplay between climate policy and air pollution policy and potential for targeted policy to limit ozone pollution in a changing climate.

Grant Approved

�99,904.64

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

31/01/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/01/2024