Spatial distribution of tropospheric ozone associated with the land use in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region

Abstract

Nowadays, atmospheric pollution represents one of the greatest challenges for managing health and quality of life of the urban center's resident population. Tropospheric ozone (O3) features among the most hazardous pollutants in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). Its formation and regulation in the atmosphere are connected to different factors, which involve precursor emission, atmospheric and environmental variables and land use in the vicinity of the monitoring point, creating a complex Picture of temporal and spatial distribution of this pollutant in the área of study. Moreover, O3 does not present a detectable decreasing tendency through the years and shows higher concentration at places where the population is often present, such as urban parks and squares, though characterized by lower vehicular pollutants concentration.Through data from the Environmental Agency of the State of São Paulo (CETESB), we intend to study the spatial distribution of tropopheric ozone in the SPMA, in order to identify associations between ozone concentrations in a given point with its land use. Since concentrations change according to this factor, we intend to further comprehend the relationship between land use and ozone using the atmospheric model WRF/Chem. Through sensitivity checks in the atmospheric model, we intend to work with the land use factor and other parametrizations which define the role of urbanization in changing the local atmosphere, and what possible impacts these changes have in the concentration and spatial distribution of this pollutant.