Sensitivity of Ozone and PM2.5 to Climate in the Eastern USA: A Modeling Case Study

John P. Dawson 1,2, Peter J. Adams2,3, and Spyros N. Pandis1

In this work, sensitivities of ozone and PM2.5 concentrations to a suite of eight perturbations in meteorological parameters are examined. The modeling tool used in this case study is PMCAMx. The sensitivities of PM2.5 concentrations are studied in both July and January, while ozone concentrations are examined only in July. The modeled time periods include portions of July 2001 and January 2002. The meteorological parameters investigated include temperature, absolute humidity, wind speed, mixing height, cloud liquid water content and optical depth, cloudy area, precipitation rate, and precipitating area. Temperature increases generally led to increases in sulfate and decreases in nitrate. Changes in wind speed, mixing height, absolute humidity, and precipitation had appreciable effects on PM2.5 concentrations, while changes in cloud cover had little effect. Changes in temperature had the largest effect on ozone concentrations.

1Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
2 Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
3 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213