Title
A model inter-comparison study focussing on episodes with elevated PM10 concentrations
Author
Stern, R.
Builtjes, P.
Schaap, M.
Timmermans, R.
Vautard, R.
Hodzic, A.
Memmesheimer, M.
Feldmann, H.
Renner, E.
Wolke, R.
Kerschbaumer, A.
TNO Bouw en Ondergrond
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Five three-dimensional chemical transport models of different complexity were applied to Central Europe to assess the ability of models to reproduce PM10 concentrations under highly polluted conditions. The participating models were the French CHIMERE model, the Dutch LOTOS-EUROS model, as well as the REM-CALGRID, the EURAD and the LM-MUSCAT models from Germany. In the selected 80-day period, observed PM10 daily mean concentrations reached values well above 50 μg m-3 on many days in large parts of Northern Germany. This model evaluation shows that there is an increasing underestimation of primary and secondary species with increasing observed PM10. The high PM levels were observed under stagnant weather conditions, which are difficult to simulate with either prognostic or diagnostic, interpolation-based meteorological models. Thus, it is quite likely that uncertainties in PM emissions and incomplete process sub-modules each separately account for only a portion of the underestimation of high PM. Uncertainties in key boundary layer parameters, which can differ by a factor of two or more between the models, represent an additional source of error-both as direct sources of error through the transporting meteorological fields and indirect sources of error through the physico-chemical modules which rely on key boundary layer parameters. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Subject
Environment
Air quality
Chemical transport models
Model evaluation
Model inter-comparison
Particulate matter
PM10 air pollution episodes
Computer simulation
Concentration (process)
Mathematical models
Atmospheric modeling
Pollution
diurnal variation
Pollutant transport
Three-dimensional modeling
Aerosol
Europe
Hydrolysis
Meteorology
Particulate matter
Physical chemistry
Prognosis
Thermodynamics
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:699784fd-89a6-4c6a-b871-9f2f59814f93
TNO identifier
240841
ISSN
1352-2310
Source
Atmospheric Environment, 42 (19), 4567-4588
Bibliographical note
European Microwave Week 2008, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Document type
article