Abstract
We examine the ability of a modelling system to forecast the formation and transport of ozone over Catalonia, at the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. To this end, the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modelling system developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the PSU/NCAR mesoscale modelling system MM5 are coupled to a new emission model, the Numerical Emission Model for Air Quality (MNEQA). The outputs of the modelling system for the period from May to October 2008 are compared with ozone measurements at selected air-monitoring stations belonging to the Catalan Government. Results indicate a good behaviour of the model in reproducing diurnal ozone concentrations, as statistical values fall within the EPA and EU regulatory frameworks.
Highlights
As a result of combined emissions of nitrogen oxides and organic compounds, large amounts of ozone are found in the planetary boundary layer
The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modelling system developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the PSU/NCAR mesoscale modelling system MM5 are coupled to a new emission model, the Numerical Emission Model for Air Quality (MNEQA)
Errors are similar, which implies that the air-quality system still has to be improved and refined. To analyze these results better, we should plan to carry out an expanded detailed analysis identifying the key factors that influence these prediction biases, such as sensitivity to synoptic conditions, to the boundary layer scheme used in the MM5 meteorological model, to the boundary conditions prescribed and to the chemical mechanisms used in CMAQ model
Summary
As a result of combined emissions of nitrogen oxides and organic compounds, large amounts of ozone are found in the planetary boundary layer. For North-eastern Spain, several studies have evaluated the performance of the model MM5-EMICAT2000-CMAQ This was done using a range of horizontal resolutions, comparing different photochemical mechanisms, or testing the ability of the model to predict high ozone concentrations during typical summer episodes (Jimenez et al, 2006a; Jimenez et al, 2003; Jimenez et al, 2006b). It is applied to the same area using the same meteorological and photochemical models, MM5 and CMAQ like in previous studies, the validation covers a longer period (6 months) and basically the system uses a new emission model MNEQA This consists of a highly disaggregated emission inventory of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter (Ortega et al, 2009).
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