Improvements of air quality simulations of particulate matter in the Iberian peninsula with road dust resuspension and dust emission modules

Abstract

The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most sensitive zones in the planet to air pollution. Besides anthropogenic emissions, the Iberian Peninsula is affected by natural particule matter (PM) sources. Dry weather conditions allow road dust to be resuspended by vehicle-induced turbulence. These emissions may be as important as those directly emitted by vehicles (combustion and from road abrasion and tyre and break wear processes). In addition, it is widely documented that crustal particles transported from the Saharan Desert may contribute significantly to ambient PM concentration in Madrid. This poster summarizes the methodology and results of the implementation of a module to account for these sources -not included in current emission inventories- into the Eulerian air quality model CMAQ. Comparison of predicted PM concentrations with ambient air quality measurements and satellite observation point out that this module clearly improves the performance of the standard CMAQ version.