Modeling of the Spatial Distribution of Forest Carbon Storage in a Tropical/Subtropical Island with Multiple Ecozones.

Visual data on the geographic distribution of carbon storage help policy makers to formulate countermeasures for global warming. However, Taiwan, as an island showing diversity in climate and topography, had lacked valid visual data on the distribution of forest carbon storage between the last two forest surveys (1993-2015). This study established a model to estimate and illustrate the distribution of forest carbon storage. This model uses land use, stand morphology, and carbon conversion coefficient databases accordingly for 51 types of major forests in Taiwan. An estimation in 2006 was conducted and shows an overall carbon storage of 165.65 Mt C, with forest carbon storage per unit area of 71.56 t C ha-1, where natural forests and plantations respectively contributed 114.15 Mt C (68.9%) and 51.50 Mt C (31.1%). By assuming no change in land use type, the carbon sequestration from 2006 to 2007 by the 51 forest types was estimated to be 5.21 Mt C yr-1 using historical tree growth and mortality rates. The result reflects the reality of the land use status and the events of coverage shifting with time by combining the two forest surveys in Taiwan.

Comparison of the RADM2 and RACM chemical mechanisms in O3 simulations: effect of the photolysis rate constant.

Since the photolysis rate plays an important role in any photoreaction leading to compound sink and radical formation/destruction and eventually O3 formation, its impact on the simulated O3 concentration was evaluated in the present study. Both RADM2 and RACM were adopted with and without updated photolysis rate constants. The newly developed photolysis rates were determined based on two major absorption cross-section and quantum yield data sources. CMAQ in conjunction with meteorological MM5 and emission data retrieved from Taiwan and East Asia were employed to provide spatial and temporal O3 predictions over a one-week period in a three-level nested domain [from 81 km × 81 km in Domain 1 (East Asia) to 9 km × 9 km in Domain 3 (Taiwan)]. Four cases were analyzed, namely, RADM2, with the original photolysis rates applied in Case 1 as a reference case, RADM2, with the updated photolysis rates applied in Case 2, and RACM, with and without the updated photolysis rates applied in Cases 3 and 4, respectively. A comparison of the simulation and observed results indicates that both the application of updated photolysis rate constants and RACM instead of RADM2 enhanced all three error analysis indicators (unpaired peak prediction accuracy, mean normalized bias error and mean absolute normalized gross error). Specifically, RADM2 with the updated photolysis rates resulted in an increase of 12 ppb (10%) in the daily maximum O3 concentration in southwestern Taiwan, while RACM without the updated photolysis rates resulted in an increase of 20 ppb (17%) in the daily maximum O3 concentration in the same area. When RACM with the updated photolysis rate constants was applied in the air quality model, the difference in the daily maximum O3 concentration reached up to 30 ppb (25%). The implication of Case 4 (RACM with the updated photolysis rates) for the formation and degradation of α-pinene and d-limonene was examined.

Long-term (2005-2015) trend analysis of PM2.5 precursor gas NO2 and SO2 concentrations in Taiwan.

Ground air monitoring stations have been installed in Taiwan since 1993 to ensure whether the criteria air pollutants meet the ambient air quality standards. In the present study, the data from the monitoring stations were used to evaluate long-term (2005-2015) trend of NO2 and SO2 in three metropolitan cities (northern Taipei, central Taichung, and southern Kaohsiung), two eastern coastal cities (Hualien and Taitung), and one agricultural city in west-central plain (Douliu); those cities essentially covered the entire region of Taiwan. The results indicate that SO2 and NO2 concentrations of all studied six cities meet the annual average standards of 30 and 50 ppb, respectively. After deseasonalizing the original data and using 7-month moving average, the trend analysis reveals a decreasing trend ranging from 0.15 to 0.57 ppb/year (R2 from 0.33 to 0.85) for NO2 and 0.06 to 0.45 ppb/year (R2 from 0.32 to 0.92) for SO2; the corresponding reductions over the 10-year span are 4 to 42% for NO2 and 22 to 52% for SO2. The reduction trend, despite the growth in GDP, vehicle numbers and energy consumption, industrial output, etc., is similar to those of developed countries. Clearly, there are seasonal/monthly variation patterns for these two precursor gases with minimum levels in summer (July) and maximum in winter (December). The concentration reductions, however, were lagging behind the respective emission reductions. There are significant correlations among six cites for NO2 (r = 0.58-0.93) and, to some extent, SO2 (0.32-0.66). The correlation between SO2 and NO2 (r = 0.46-0.74) indicates same or similar emission sources. Furthermore, the correlation between observed pollutant concentrations and their emission is excellent for SO2 in two cities (0.79-0.96). The SO2/NO2 ratios vary with city and time and the value is site specific. For example, in 2005, the SO2/NO2 ratio was 0.38 in Kaohsiung and 0.18 in both Taipei and Taichung, the latter reflecting significant contribution from mobile sources. However, they all converged to 0.18-0.28 in 2015 in the six cities evaluated. All in all, the policies/measures made by the central and local government are effective in reducing ambient SO2 and NO2 levels.

MTBE concentration profiles near MTBE manufacturing plant: modeling approach and modeling uncertainty.

The methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) concentration profiles near a MTBE manufacturing plant were monitored on two occasions. The US EPA's atmospheric dispersion model (industrial source complex short-term) was used to model the ambient MTBE levels with the input of local meteorological data as well as MTBE emissions from the plant. The measured ambient MTBE concentrations range from 6 to 76 microgm(-3) with the average value about 33 microgm(-3). These values are similar to those values reported in ambient air in the vicinity of service stations of 4-12 microgm(-3) and tollbooths at a highway of 10-22 microgm(-3), but lower than those values reported in ambient air near gas stations of 50-690 microgm(-3), and higher than those values reported in atmospheric of 0.9-3.0 microgm(-3). Since the model has not been validated for the simulated MTBE profiles, there exist differences between the observed and mode-predicted data. The sensitivity and uncertainty of model parameters were then analyzed. The effects of wind direction, wind velocity and atmospheric stability are discussed in terms of their impact on model sensitivity/uncertainty.

Source impacts by volatile organic compounds in an industrial city of southern Taiwan.

This study investigates source impacts by airborne volatile organic compounds (VOC) at two sites designated for traffic and industry, in the largest industrial area Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. The samples were collected at the two sites simultaneously during rush and non-rush hours in summer and autumn seasons. Same pattern of VOC groups were found at both sites: most abundant aromatics (78-95%) followed by alkanes (2-16%) and alkenes (0-6%). The BTEX concentration measured at the two sites ranged from 69 to 301 ppbC. Toluene, isopentane, ethylbenzene, and benzene were found to be the most abundant species. Speciation of VOCs was characterized with several skills including principal component factor analysis and BTEX characteristic ratios. Each of the resulted principal factors at the two sites explained over 80% of the VOCs data variance, and indicated that both of the sampling sites were influenced by both traffic and industrial sources with separately different levels. The remarkable patterns of the first two factors described not only the similarity but also the discrepancy at the two sampling sites, in terms of the source impacts. The high T/B ratios (7.56-14.25) observed at the industrial site implied the important impact from mobile emissions. The indicators, m,p-xylene/benzene and o-xylene/benzene, also confirmed the potential source of motor vehicles at both of the sampling sites. Air age assessment showed that more than half of the total observations located in the domain of fresh air. Low X/E ratios implied somewhat aged air mass transported to the sampling sites. The industrial site might not only encounter emissions from the industry sources, but also under unavoidable impact from the traffic sources.

Estimation of biogenic volatile organic compounds emissions in subtropical island--Taiwan.

Elevated tropospheric ozone is harmful to human health and plants. It is formed through the photochemical reactions involving volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO(x)). The elevated ozone episodes occur mainly in summer months in the United States, while the high-ozone episodes frequently occur during the fall in Taiwan. The unique landscape of Taiwan produces tremendous amounts of biogenic VOCs in the mountain regions that are adjacent to concentrated urban areas. The urban areas, in turn, generate prodigious amounts of anthropogenic emissions. Biogenic VOC emissions have direct influence on tropospheric ozone formation. To explore the air quality problems in Taiwan, this study attempts to develop a biogenic VOC emission model suitable for air quality applications in Taiwan. The emission model is based on the Biogenic Emissions Inventory System Version 2 and coupled with a detailed Taiwan land use database. The 1999 total Taiwan biogenic VOC emissions were estimated at 214,000 metric tons. The emissions of isoprene, monoterpenes, and other VOCs were about 37.2%, 30.4%, and 32.4% of total biogenic VOC emissions, respectively. The annual total biogenic VOC emission per unit area was more than two times the value of that in any European country, implying that detailed emissions estimates in any size of region will benefit the global biogenic emission inventories.