Atmospheric effects of air pollution during dry and wet periods in Sao Paulo

Author(s)

Ibarra-Espinosa, Sergio ; Mendes da Silva, Gyrlene Aparecida ; Rehbein, Amanda ; Vara-Vela, Angel ; de Freitas, Edmilson Dias

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES; v. 2, n. 2, p. 15-pg., 2022-03-01.

Abstract

Air pollutants reach high concentrations in developing countries, such as Brazil. The state of Sao Paulo is the economic and demographic center of Brazil and presents high levels of urbanization, fleet, and air pollution. Air pollutant concentrations are driven by meteorology, but aerosols present in polluted air also interact and change meteorological parameters due to their primary and secondary feedback effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of on-road transportation emissions on air pollutant concentrations and meteorology. Vehicular emissions were estimated using the VEIN model with a bottom-up fuel-calibration approach, and air pollutant concentrations were simulated using the WRF-Chem model considering dry and wet periods for Southeast Brazil. A 3 km grid spacing was considered for the inner domain to account for mesoscale circulation. Air pollutant simulations aligned with observations. Regarding the aerosol feedback, stronger interactions were found during the wet period. It was found that the effect of aerosols reduces 1.3% of downward solar radiation and 1.5% of O-3, during the dry period. Furthermore, indirect effects of aerosols resulted in more precipitation, a higher planetary boundary layer, and lower levels of air pollutants in cities. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10557-0 - Mesoscale convective systems over the Amazon basin: present climate and future climate change scenarios
• Grantee: Amanda Rehbein
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/07992-5 - Impact of climate change on Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Amazon basin
• Grantee: Amanda Rehbein
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/18438-0 - São Paulo Metropolitan Area, jointly tracking climate change and air quality - METROCLIMA-MASP
• Grantee: Maria de Fátima Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/07136-1 - Emissions inventory of greenhouse gases from transport, dispersion in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo
• Grantee: Sergio Alejandro Ibarra Espinosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/03804-9 - Environmental governance of macrometropolis paulista in face of climate variability
• Grantee: Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants