Influence of sea breeze flows on air pollution over the attica peninsula

Abstract In the frame of the APSIS project (Athenian Photochemical Smog Intercomparison of Simulations) simulations of the flow and the air pollution over the Attica Peninsula have been carried out. The simulations are performed with the model system KAMM/DRAIS for 25 May 1990, using the RADM gas-phase chemical mechanism. They show the influence of the sea breeze on the diurnal cycle of the NO, NO2 and O3 concentrations in the Greater Athens Area. The formation of ozone due to industrial emissions at the coast of the Thriassion plain and from the traffic emissions in the city of Athens leads to peak ozone concentrations of nearly 400 μg m−3 northeast of the centre of the city. Measurements of wind speed, wind direction and temperature support that the development of the sea breeze in the basin of Athens is well described by the model. The comparison between the measured and calculated concentrations shows at most of the stations a satisfying agreement.