Projected changes in sea-land breeze dynamics and pollutant transport under future climate conditions

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Climate Change Research
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Sea-land breezes are crucial for coastal climate regulation and air quality.
• They can mitigate urban heat and pollution but also transport pollutants inland.
• High-resolution projections of future sea-breeze and ozone interactions are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To project the impact of climate change on sea-land breezes in Barcelona.
• To investigate the resulting changes in ozone formation and transport.
• To assess future air quality and health risks in coastal urban areas.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the WRF-Chem model with a BEP+BEM urban canopy scheme.
• Applied the Pseudo Global Warming approach for high-resolution (1 km) projections.
• Simulated the SSP3-7.0 scenario for 2050 and 2100 in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

Main Results:

• Projected an acceleration of the sea-land breeze parallel to the coast by 2100.
• Observed a reduction in inland penetration and a 1-2 hour delay in the breeze front.
• Simulations indicated significant increases in ground-level ozone by 2100.

Conclusions:

• Climate change is altering sea-breeze dynamics, leading to reduced ventilation in coastal zones.
• Increased temperatures and modified boundary layer dynamics will exacerbate ozone pollution.
• Urgent need for adapted mitigation strategies to address future health risks in densely populated coastal areas.