Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
4 General Methodology
The following methodology was applied to identify critical areas (according to the
definition of critical areas within this project):
1.
Pollution level
: identification of zones and areas with levels above the limit
values for PM
10
and NO
2
in 2007. Sources of information were the annual
reports submitted according to Commission Decision 2004/461/EC [
3
],
AirBase,
1
time extension notifications,
2
model calculations (e.g. EMEP
3
) and
reports from ETC/ACC.
4
Further, mostly qualitative information was derived
from Europe-wide modelling and earth observation studies.
2.
Trends
: identification of zones and areas with stagnant or increasing PM, NO
x
and NO
2
levels. Sources of information were annual reports (2004/461/EC),
AirBase and time extension notifications. Separate analysis of the trends of
NO
x
and NO
2
levels helps to identify areas influenced by increasing primary
NO
2
emissions from diesel vehicles.
3. Investigation into the identification of possible
indicators
for “critical areas”,
relating to the reasons for measured concentrations:
• Topographic and climatic conditions
• Transboundary contributions, leading to increased regional background levels
• Emissions/emission densities
•
Indicators of emission densities, e.g. population density
The indicators can be separated into those that cannot be influenced, such as climatic
conditions and topography, and those which can be influenced partly (transboundary
contributions, population density) or fully by the Member State (emissions, especially
of relevant sources such as traffic, domestic heating, industry). These indicators have
been visualised with the help of GIS and correlated with air quality indicators.
5 Analysis and Results
5.1 Correlation and Threshold Analysis
Table
1
gives an overview of the correlation between MACC
5
gridded annual mean
PM
10
levels and the parameters described above. No parameter shows a correlation
4
European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change, now ETC/ACM, European Topic Centre for
Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation.
5
Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate,
http://www.gmes-atmosphere.eu/
.
