Air quality trends in Europe over the past decade: a first multi-model assessment

Colette, Augustin; Bessagnet, Bertrand; d'Angiola, Ariela; Gauss, Michael; Granier, Claire; Hodnebrog, Øivind; Jakobs, Hermann; Maurizi, A.; Meleux, F.; Memmesheimer, M.; Nyíri, Á.; Rouïl, Laurence; Russo, Felicita; Solberg, Sverre; Stordal, Frøde; Tampieri, F.

doi:10.5194/acpd-11-19029-2011

Cited by 30 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Many studies qualitatively match the direction of observed trends in aerosol but underestimate both absolute concentrations and the magnitude of observed trends (Berglen et al, 2007;Colette et al, 2011;Koch et al, 2011;Chin et al, 2014). Leibensperger et al (2012) used the chemical transport model (CTM) GEOS-Chem to evaluate aerosol trends over the USA at decadal time slices and found that sulfate but not BC was represented well by the model.…”

Section: S T Turnock Et Al: Modelled and Observed Changes In Europmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leibensperger et al (2012) used the chemical transport model (CTM) GEOS-Chem to evaluate aerosol trends over the USA at decadal time slices and found that sulfate but not BC was represented well by the model. A multimodel assessment of aerosol trends in Europe over the last decade showed models successfully simulate observed negative trends in PM 10 but fail to reproduce the positive trends observed at some locations and typically underestimate absolute concentrations (Colette et al, 2011). Observed reductions in sulfate over Europe have also been underestimated by other studies (Berglen et al, 2007;Koch et al, 2011).…”

Section: S T Turnock Et Al: Modelled and Observed Changes In Europmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Modelled and observed changes in aerosols and surface solar radiation over Europe between 1960 and 2009

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Substantial changes in anthropogenic aerosols and precursor gas emissions have occurred over recent decades due to the implementation of air pollution control legislation and economic growth. The response of atmospheric aerosols to these changes and the impact on climate are poorly constrained, particularly in studies using detailed aerosol chemistry-climate models. Here we compare the HadGEM3-UKCA (Hadley Centre Global Environment Model-United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols) coupled chemistry-climate model for the period 1960-2009 against extensive ground-based observations of sulfate aerosol mass (1978-2009), total suspended particle matter (SPM, 1978(SPM, -1998

show abstract

Section: S T Turnock Et Al: Modelled and Observed Changes In Europmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: S T Turnock Et Al: Modelled and Observed Changes In Europmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelled and observed changes in aerosols and surface solar radiation over Europe between 1960 and 2009

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…15.7 and discussed in more detail by Tørseth et al (2012), the trends in SO X , NO X and NH 3 emissions are generally reflected in the measurements, with the exceptions of SO 4 2− (discussed above) and NO 3 − . Colette et al (2011) also found robust trends in NO 2 over the past ten years, with the majority of monitoring stations in Europe showing reductions of about 50-60 % over this period. The concentrations of total airborne NO 3 − decreased on average by only 8 %.…”

Section: Sulphur and Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Jenkin 2008). Colette et al (2011) presented trends in O 3 (as well as NO 2 and PM 10 ) over the past ten years. They found that (as expected) the trends in O 3 reflect trends in NO 2 .…”

Section: Ozonementioning

confidence: 97%

Environmental Impacts—Atmospheric Chemistry

Simpson

Bartnicki

Jalkanen

et al. 2015

Regional Climate Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This chapter addresses sources and trends of atmospheric pollutants and deposition in relation to the Baltic Sea region. Air pollution is shown to have important effects, including significant contributions to nitrogen loading of the Baltic Sea area, ecosystem impacts due to acidifying and eutrophying pollutants and ozone, and human health impacts. Compounds such as sulphate and ozone also have climate impacts. Emission changes have been very significant over the past 100 years, although very different for land-and sea-based sources. Land-based emissions generally peaked around 1980-1990 and have since reduced due to emissions control measures. Emissions from shipping have been steadily increasing for decades, but recent measures have reduced sulphur and particulate emissions. Future developments depend strongly on policy developments. Changes in concentration and deposition of the acidifying components generally follow emission changes within the European area. Mean ozone levels roughly doubled during the twentieth century across the northern hemisphere, but peak levels have reduced in many regions in the past 20 years. The main changes in air pollution in the Baltic Sea region are due to changes in emissions rather than to climate change.

show abstract

“…16.9) a corresponding reduction in O 3 concentration is not observed (Jonson et al 2006;EEA 2009EEA , 2012Tørseth et al 2012;Wilson et al 2012). Models also generally struggle to reproduce some of the observed trends (Solberg et al 2005;Jonson et al 2006;Colette et al 2011;Wilson et al 2012;Parrish et al 2014). Likely reasons include increased (Fagerli et al 2012) background (hemispheric) O 3 level-observational evidence suggests that the increase in background O 3 roughly doubled from 1950 to 2000 and then levelled off (Logan et al 2012;Derwent et al 2013;Oltmans et al 2013;Parrish et al 2013).…”

Section: Air Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Socio-economic Impacts—Air Quality

Dalsøren

Jonson

2016

North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the North Sea region, poor air quality has serious implications for human health and the related societal costs are considerable. The state of air pollution is often used as a proxy for air quality. This chapter focuses on the two atmospheric pollutants of most significance to human health in Europe-particulate matter and ground-level ozone. These are also important 'climate forcers'. In the North Sea area, the effects on air quality of emission changes since preindustrial times are stronger than the effects of climate change. According to model simulations, this is also the case for future air quality in the North Sea region, but substantial variation in model results implies considerable uncertainty. Short-term events such as heat waves can have substantial impacts on air quality and some regional climate models suggest that heat waves may become more frequent in the coming decades. If the reductions in air pollutant emissions expected through increasingly stringent policy measures are not achieved, any increase in the severity or frequency of heat waves may have severe consequences for air quality. Climate and air quality interact in several ways and mitigation optimised for a climate or air quality target in isolation could have synergistic or antagonistic effects. IntroductionThe state of air pollution is often expressed as air quality. The concentrations of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter are then used as a measure of air quality. However, it is often not meaningful to discuss air quality without addressing the multiple impacts of air pollution. Major air pollutants may be clustered according to their properties and impacts, and this is shown in Fig. 16.1. After being emitted into the atmosphere pollutants undergo chemical oxidation and form new compounds with different properties and impacts. Pollutants then remain in the atmosphere until they are removed through cloud and precipitation processes or by direct deposition to the earth's surface. Differences in chemical reactivity and removal rates result in atmospheric lifetimes ranging from seconds to months. Air quality and related impacts are therefore influenced by local meteorological features, regional (transboundary) processes, and intercontinental transport. The pathway from emissions to impacts is complex. The focus in this chapter is limited to impacts on human health, climate, and climate-air quality interactions and mainly excludes impacts on ecosystems (acidification, eutrophication, carbon sequestration, crops, and vegetation) and materials. Impacts of climate change on ecosystems are covered in Chaps. 8, 9, 10, and 11. Air quality and climate interact in several ways. Air pollutants can affect climate both directly and indirectly through their influence on the radiative balance of the atmosphere. Primary particulate matter (primary PM, Fig. 16.1 having a negligible direct radiative ('greenhouse') effect, have an important indirect climate effect by acting as precursors for components that are both harmful pollutants and a...

show abstract

Air quality trends in Europe over the past decade: a first multi-model assessment

Cited by 30 publications

References 58 publications

Modelled and observed changes in aerosols and surface solar radiation over Europe between 1960 and 2009

Modelled and observed changes in aerosols and surface solar radiation over Europe between 1960 and 2009

Environmental Impacts—Atmospheric Chemistry

Socio-economic Impacts—Air Quality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About