The Contribution to Nitrogen Deposition and Ozone Formation in South Norway from Atmospheric Emissions Related to the Petroleum Activity in the North Sea

Solberg, S.; Lazaridis, M.; Walker, S.-E.; Knudsen, S.; Semb, A.

The Contribution to Nitrogen Deposition and Ozone Formation in South Norway from Atmospheric Emissions Related to the Petroleum Activity in the North Sea

2003

Solberg, S. | Lazaridis, M. | Walker, S.-E. | Knudsen, S. | Semb, A.

A photochemical puff-trajectory model (Fotoplume) has been applied to simulate emissions, atmospheric transport and chemical transformations of pollutants from offshore oil and gas production in the North Sea. The above model was used in conjunction with the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) regional Lagrangian oxidant model. The Fotoplume and EMEP models were used to evaluate the effects of the atmospheric emissions from the oil and gas exploration activity in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Deposition of nitrogen and formation of boundary level ozone in Southern Norway due to North Sea emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been studied. The petroleum activity in the North Sea is calculated to contribute approximately 20% of the nitrogen deposition in the coastal areas of Norway in 1992. In addition, the models were used to estimate the AOT40 ozone exposure levels. The results indicate that emissions from British and Norwegian oil and gas exploitation sector separately contribute to less than 5% each of the AOT40 values for coniferous forests and meadows. Comparison of model calculations with experimental measurements is quite satisfactory and the models show realistic results for both the nitrogen deposition and AOT40 values.

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