Simulation of potential formation of atmospheric pollution from aboveground storage tank leakage after severe storms

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dc.citation.articleNumber118225
dc.citation.journalTitleAtmospheric Environment
dc.citation.volumeNumber248
dc.contributor.authorBi, Shiyang
dc.contributor.authorKiaghadi, Amin
dc.contributor.authorSchulze, Benjamin C.
dc.contributor.authorBernier, Carl
dc.contributor.authorBedient, Philip B.
dc.contributor.authorPadgett, Jamie E.
dc.contributor.authorRifai, Hanadi
dc.contributor.authorGriffin, Robert J.
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-02T20:20:52Z
dc.date.available2021-03-02T20:20:52Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractDamage by severe storms of infrastructure containing chemicals can cause widespread pollution of the atmosphere and nearby bodies of water. Because atmospheric monitoring equipment is inoperable in the periods after these storms, transport and fate modeling approaches are necessary to estimate the regional atmospheric concentrations of evaporated spill material and secondary pollutants from such events. Hypothetical spills from a single storage tank in Houston were used to evaluate the impact of different meteorological scenarios (Hurricanes Harvey in 2017 and Ike in 2008), leaked materials (oils and organic solvents), background chemical conditions, and cloud conditions on simulated air pollution. Due to differences in evaporation rate, downwind oil plumes are predicted to cover a broader region than organic solvent plumes, which remain concentrated along the path of the prevailing wind. Depending on assumptions regarding evaporation, mixing ratios of spilled material of up to 90 parts per million are predicted. Substantial formation of ozone (up to an enhancement of 130 parts per billion) and secondary organic aerosol (up to an enhancement of 30 μg m−3) could occur in the short-term aftermath of these storms within the downwind solvent plumes, with the magnitude dependent on the solar radiation, type of material, and background pollutant level. This highlights the potential vulnerability of residents and workers in downwind regions to evaporated spill materials and their degradation products.
dc.identifier.citationBi, Shiyang, Kiaghadi, Amin, Schulze, Benjamin C., et al.. "Simulation of potential formation of atmospheric pollution from aboveground storage tank leakage after severe storms." <i>Atmospheric Environment,</i> 248, (2021) Elsevier: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118225.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118225
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/110109
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rightsThis is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier.
dc.subject.keywordHurricane
dc.subject.keywordTank leakage
dc.subject.keywordEvaporated spill materials
dc.subject.keywordOzone
dc.subject.keywordSecondary organic aerosol
dc.titleSimulation of potential formation of atmospheric pollution from aboveground storage tank leakage after severe storms
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.publicationpost-print
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