Mobile MAX-DOAS and in situ measurements of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols

As part of the German project MeSMarT (Measurements of shipping emissions in the marine troposphere, a cooperation between the University of Bremen and the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency) and the EU LIFE project CLINSH (Clean Inland Shipping,) numerous mobile measurements of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols have been carried out.

For both projects one main objective is to investigate the general impact of shipping emissions on the air quality in regions with high marine traffic. In order to do this in areas where no permanent monitoring systems are available, in 2015 a mobile lab has been set up, which includes among other instrumentation for air pollution and meteorological parameters a scientific-grade MAX-DOAS system as well as in situ instruments for nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide (trace level).

In this study we present intercomparison results between the different instruments onboard the mobile lab as well as the interpretation of the results using complementary data sets at different locations including the Lower Rhine and Waal area and several regions in Northern Germany. For some places close to the banks of the Rhine more than 70% of the nitrogen oxides are related to shipping emissions. Emission factors for different ship types have been calculated and compared to recent studies and emission inventories.