Selection of Receptor Sites for Optimized Acid Rain Control Strategies

Abstract

A procedure is developed to identify the receptor sites which influence optimized emission abatement strategies. These “influential receptors” are the most critical sites in terms of meeting environmental objectives. Influential receptors represent only a small portion of the modeled region. After their identification, standard optimization techniques may be used. The procedure increases the speed of optimization, decreases memory requirements, and enables the solution of realistic problems using microcomputers. Influential receptors are found for several emission abatement strategies aimed at reducing peak concentrations and surface depositions of sulfur and nitrogen in North America and Europe.