Pollutant

The GAINS model is designed to analyze interactions and synergies between various air pollutants and greenhouse gases, their sources, and their impacts on air quality, climate change, terrestrial ecosystems, and human health. The model covers a wide range of pollutants, including 4 greenhouse gases and 7 air pollutants:

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs):

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)

  • Methane (CH4)

  • Nitrous oxide (N2O)

  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

  • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

  • Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

Air Pollutants:

  • Particulate matter (PM)

  • Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

  • Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

  • Carbon monoxide (CO)

  • Ammonia (NH3)

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

  • Mercury (Hg)

A few pollutants and greenhouse gases have been temporarily suspended from the online GAINS calculations:

  • The F-gases HFC, PFC, SF6 were operational in GAINS version 3 and will be included again in the near future. Offline calculations are possible for selected scenarios.

  • Mercury (Hg) has been taken out of the list of active pollutants but is in the process of being re-introduced with updated methodology.

  • Particle numbers (PN) emissions were calculated as part of the particulate matter emissions but are currently not supported.

The full list of (sub-)pollutants covered by the model can be consulted under the pollutant glossary page.