Vertical stratification of volatile organic compounds and their photochemical product formation potential in an industrial urban area

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 217; pp. 327 - 336
• Main Authors: Vo, Thi-Dieu-Hien, Lin, Chitsan, Weng, Chien-Erh, Yuan, Chung-Shin, Lee, Chia-Wei, Hung, Chung-Hsuang, Bui, Xuan-Thanh, Lo, Kuo-Cheng, Lin, Jun-Xian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Air Pollutants; Cities; Environmental Monitoring; Inversion layer; Ozone; Ozone formation potential (OFP); Photochemistry; Secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP); Taiwan; Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); Vehicle Emissions; Vertical VOC stratification; Volatile Organic Compounds; Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); Vertical VOC stratification; Ozone formation potential (OFP); Secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP); Inversion layer
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.101

High emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the petrochemical industry and vehicle exhaust may contribute to high ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP). In this study, the vertical profiles of VOCs were created for the southern Taiwan industrial city of Kaohsiung. Vertical air samples were collected up to 1000 m using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In Renwu District, VOC distribution was affected by the inversion layer up to 200 m height. Total VOCs (36–327 ppbv), OFP (66–831 ppbv) and SOAFP (0.12–5.55 ppbv) stratified by height were the highest values at 300 m. The VOCs originated from both local and long-distance transport sources. These findings can be integrated into Kaohsiung's future air quality improvement plans and serve as a reference for other industrialized areas worldwide. [Display omitted] •Unmanned aerial vehicle collected ambient air samples up to 1000 m above ground.•Temperature inversion layer existed about 200 m height in Renwu, southern Taiwan.•The highest volatile organic compounds showed at 300 m (Renwu), 400 m (Chaozhou).•The highest ozone, secondary organic aerosol formation potential observed at 300 m.