Title
Evaluation of operational online-coupled regional air quality models over Europe and North America in the context of AQMEII phase 2. Part II: Particulate matter
Author
Im, U.
Bianconi, R.
Solazzo, E.
Kioutsioukis, I.
Badia, A.
Balzarini, A.
Baro, R.
Bellasio, R.
Brunner, D.
Chemel, C.
Curci, G.
Denier van der Gon, H.A.C.
Flemming, J.
Forkel, R.
Giordano, L.
Jimenez-Guerrero, P.
Hirtl, M.
Hodzic, A.
Honzak, L.
Jorba, O.
Knote, C.
Makar, P.A.
Manders-Groot, A.M.M.
Neal, L.
Perez, J.L.
Pirovano, G.
Pouliot, G.
San Jose, R.
Savage, N.
Schroder, W.
Sokhi, R.S.
Syrakov, D.
Torian, A.
Tucella, P.
Wang, K.
Werhahn, J.
Wolke, R.
Zabkar, R.
Zhang, Y.
Zhang, J.
Hogrefe, C.
Galmarini, S.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
The second phase of the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) brought together seventeen modeling groups from Europe and North America, running eight operational online-coupled air quality models over Europe and North America using common emissions and boundary conditions. The simulated annual, seasonal, continental and sub-regional particulate matter (PM) surface concentrations for the year 2010 have been evaluated against a large observational database from different measurement networks operating in Europe and North America. The results show a systematic underestimation for all models in almost all seasons and sub-regions, with the largest underestimations for the Mediterranean region. The rural PM10 concentrations over Europe are underestimated by all models by up to 66% while the underestimations are much larger for the urban PM10 concentrations (up to 75%). On the other hand, there are overestimations in PM2.5 levels suggesting that the large underestimations in the PM10 levels can be attributed to the natural dust emissions. Over North America, there is a general underestimation in PM10 in all seasons and sub-regions by up to ~90% due mainly to the under predictions in soil dust. SO2/4 levels over EU are underestimated by majority of the models while NO-3 levels are largely overestimated, particulary in east and south Europe. NH4 levels are also under- underestimated largely in south Europe. SO4 levels over North America are particularly overestimated over the western US that is characterized by large anthropogenic emissions while the eastern USA is characterized by underestimated SO4 levels by the majority of the models. Daytime AOD levels at 555 nm is simulated within the 50% error range over both continents with differences attributed to differences in concentrations of the relevant species as well as in approaches in estimating the AOD. Results show that the simulated dry deposition can lead to substantial differences among the models. Overall, the results show that representation of dust and sea-salt emissions can largely impact the simulated PM concentrations and that there are still major challenges and uncertainties in simulating the PM levels.
Subject
Earth / Environmental
CAS - Climate, Air and Sustainability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Urban Development
Environment
Built Environment
AQMEII
On-line coupled models
Performance analysis
Particulate matter
Europe
North America
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:43cfad3a-6db1-47b3-bc43-79a6526024c4
TNO identifier
514409
Source
Atmospheric Environment, 421-441
Document type
article