The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) identified the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area as a major non-attainment area for ozone exceedances. Literature suggests that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a major role in the formation of ozone. This conference paper aims at evaluating the correlation of different types of VOCs with ozone on the basis of Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) photochemical modeling simulations in the HGB area. The different types of VOCS that are used for correlation analysis are aldehyde (ALD2), alkane (ETHA), formaldehyde (FORM), and peroxyacetyle nitrate (PAN). The CAMx photochemical modeling simulations are based on the 2012 ozone episodes data, provided by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The contributions of different types of VOCs in ozone formation at different times of the day would be examined. Earlier studies based on the 2006 ozone episodes have shown that the concentrations of ALD2, ETHA, FORM, and PAN were higher during the daytime. In this conference paper, the authors examine the influence of ALD2, ETHA, FORM, and PAN on ozone formation in the HGB area using 2012 data and compare them with the 2006 data.

Analyzing the correlation of volatile organic compounds with ozone formation in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area Using CAMx

249th National Meeting (2015)

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