Abstract
The aim of this research was to better understand the dynamics of air pollutants and to forecast the air quality over regional areas in order to develop emission abatement strategies for air pollution and adverse health effects. To accomplish this objective, we developed and applied a high resolution Eulerian system named ARAMIS (A Regional Air Quality Modelling Integrated System) over the north-east of Spain (Catalonia), where several pollutants exceed threshold values for the protection of human health. The results indicate that the model reproduced reasonably well observed concentrations, as statistical values fell within Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations and European (EU) regulations. Nevertheless, some hourly O3 exceedances in summer and hourly peaks of NO2 in winter were underestimated. Concerning PM10 concentrations less accurate model levels were obtained with a moderate trend towards underestimation during the day.
Highlights
Evaluation of the meteorological model performance Model results were evaluated from February to September 2013 by comparison with data from a set of 172 surface meteorological stations belonging to the Catalonian Meteorological Service and displayed in Figure 1b by black squares
The statistics selected for the evaluation were the root mean square error (RMSE), the mean absolute gross error (MAGE), the mean bias (MB) and the index of agreement (IOA)
Evaluation of the photochemical model performance The air quality model is evaluated for the same period as before and the assessment is focused on hourly O3, NO2 forecast and hourly and daily PM10 predictions
Summary
Air pollution is harmful to human health and the environment. The European Commission (EC) and the U.S Environmental Agency (US-EPA) have promoted several actions focused on establishing minimum quality standards for ambient air and tackling the problems of exceedance of several pollutants at ground level. Despite the considerable efforts that have been made to reduce pollutant emissions in recent decades, there are still only modest signs of reduced concentration levels for some pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Local and regional emission contributions to air quality will remain dominant over the decade, and countries and regions must continue their efforts to reduce primary pollutant emissions in a cost-effective manner
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