The EUMAC Zooming Model, a tool for local-to-regional air quality studies

Abstract

The EUMAC Zooming Model (EZM) is a comprehensive model system for simulations of wind flow and air pollutant transport and transformation at the local-to-regional scale. Core models of the EZM are the nonhydrostatic mesoscale model MEMO and the photochemical dispersion model MARS. Manifold air quality studies, primarily for large urban agglomerations, have been already performed with the EZM. In most of these studies the results of the EZM agree fairly well with available observations. An example for a successful study with the EZM is its application to simulate the formation of photochemical smog in the case of stagnant meteorological conditions in Athens. By applying a suitable nesting technique, MEMO reproduces satisfactorily the observed diurnal wind pattern in Athens. The results of MARS elucidate the characteristics of a severe photosmog episode in Athens and are in general very similar to available observations.