The MetVed model: development and evaluation of emissions from residential wood combustion at high spatio-temporal resolution in Norway

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 19; no. 15; pp. 10217 - 10237
• Main Authors: Grythe, Henrik, Lopez-Aparicio, Susana, Vogt, Matthias, Vo Thanh, Dam, Hak, Claudia, Halse, Anne Karine, Hamer, Paul, Sousa Santos, Gabriela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 13.08.2019; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Accuracy; Air quality; Air quality assessments; Air quality measurements; Aromatic compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Benzo(a)pyrene; Biomass burning; Black carbon; Burning; Carbon; Chemical properties; Combustion; Consumption; Domains; Dwellings; Emission; Emission measurements; Emissions; Emissions (Pollution); Environmental aspects; Heating; Homesites; Outdoor air quality; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Particulate matter emissions; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Profiles; Pyrene; Quality assessment; Residential development; Resolution; Seasonal variations; Seasonality; Spatial distribution; Statistical methods; Suspended particulate matter; Temporal distribution; Temporal resolution; Urban air; Urban air quality; Wood; Norway
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-19-10217-2019

We present here emissions estimated from a newly developed emission model for residential wood combustion (RWC) at high spatial and temporal resolution, which we name the MetVed model. The model estimates hourly emissions resolved on a 250 m grid resolution for several compounds, including particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Norway for a 12-year period. The model uses novel input data and calculation methods that combine databases built with an unprecedented high level of detail and near-national coverage. The model establishes wood burning potential at the grid based on the dependencies between variables that influence emissions: i.e. outdoor temperature, number of and type and size of dwellings, type of available heating technologies, distribution of wood-based heating installations and their associated emission factors. RWC activity with a 1 h temporal profile was produced by combining heating degree day and hourly and weekday activity profiles reported by wood consumers in official statistics. This approach results in an improved characterisation of the spatio-temporal distribution of wood use, and subsequently of emissions, required for urban air quality assessments. Whereas most variables are calculated based on bottom-up approaches on a 250 m spatial grid, the MetVed model is set up to use official wood consumption at the county level and then distributes consumption to individual grids proportional to the physical traits of the residences within it. MetVed combines consumption with official emission factors that makes the emissions also upward scalable from the 250 m grid to the national level.