scholarly journals Evaluation of a regional air-quality model with bidirectional NH<sub>3</sub> exchange coupled to an agroecosystem model

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1635-1645 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. O. Bash ◽  
E. J. Cooter ◽  
R. L. Dennis ◽  
J. T. Walker ◽  
J. E. Pleim

Abstract. Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is the primary atmospheric base and an important precursor for inorganic particulate matter and when deposited NH3 contributes to surface water eutrophication, soil acidification and decline in species biodiversity. Flux measurements indicate that the air–surface exchange of NH3 is bidirectional. However, the effects of bidirectional exchange, soil biogeochemistry and human activity are not parameterized in air quality models. The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Community Multiscale Air-Quality (CMAQ) model with bidirectional NH3 exchange has been coupled with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) agroecosystem model. The coupled CMAQ-EPIC model relies on EPIC fertilization timing, rate and composition while CMAQ models the soil ammonium (NH4&amp;plus;) pool by conserving the ammonium mass due to fertilization, evasion, deposition, and nitrification processes. This mechanistically coupled modeling system reduced the biases and error in NHx (NH3 &amp;plus; NH4&amp;plus;) wet deposition and in ambient aerosol concentrations in an annual 2002 Continental US (CONUS) domain simulation when compared to a 2002 annual simulation of CMAQ without bidirectional exchange. Fertilizer emissions estimated in CMAQ 5.0 with bidirectional exchange exhibits markedly different seasonal dynamics than the US EPA's National Emissions Inventory (NEI), with lower emissions in the spring and fall and higher emissions in July.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 11375-11401 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. O. Bash ◽  
E. J. Cooter ◽  
R. L. Dennis ◽  
J. T. Walker ◽  
J. E. Pleim

Abstract. Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is the primary atmospheric base and an important precursor for inorganic particulate matter and when deposited NH3 contributes to surface water eutrophication, soil acidification and decline in species biodiversity. Flux measurements indicate that the air-surface exchange of NH3 is bi-directional. However, the effects of bi-directional exchange, soil biogeochemistry and human activity are not parameterized in air quality models. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Community Multiscale Air-Quality (CMAQ) model with bi-directional NH3 exchange has been coupled with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) agro-ecosystem model's nitrogen geochemistry algorithms. CMAQ with bi-directional NH3 exchange coupled to EPIC connects agricultural cropping management practices to emissions and atmospheric concentrations of reduced nitrogen and models the biogeochemical feedback on NH3 air-surface exchange. This coupled modeling system reduced the biases and error in NHx (NH3 + NH4+) wet deposition and in ambient aerosol concentrations in an annual 2002 Continental US (CONUS) domain simulation when compared to a 2002 annual simulation of CMAQ without bi-directional exchange. Fertilizer emissions estimated in CMAQ 5.0 with bi-directional exchange exhibits markedly different seasonal dynamics than the US EPA's National Emissions Inventory (NEI), with lower emissions in the spring and fall and higher emissions in July.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 10461-10482 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Brook ◽  
P. A. Makar ◽  
D. M. L. Sills ◽  
K. L. Hayden ◽  
R. McLaren

Abstract. This paper serves as an overview and discusses the main findings from the Border Air Quality and Meteorology Study (BAQS-Met) in southwestern Ontario in 2007. This region is dominated by the Great Lakes, shares borders with the United States and consistently experiences the highest ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter concentrations in Canada. The purpose of BAQS-Met was to improve our understanding of how lake-driven meteorology impacts air quality in the region, and to improve models used for forecasting and policy scenarios. Results show that lake breeze occurrence frequencies and inland penetration distances were significantly greater than realized in the past. Due to their effect on local meteorology, the lakes were found to enhance secondary O3 and aerosol formation such that local anthropogenic emissions have their impact closer to the populated source areas than would otherwise occur in the absence of the lakes. Substantial spatial heterogeneity in O3 was observed with local peaks typically 30 ppb above the regional values. Sulfate and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) enhancements were also linked to local emissions being transported in the lake breeze circulations. This study included the first detailed evaluation of regional applications of a high-resolution (2.5 km grid) air quality model in the Great Lakes region. The model showed that maxima in secondary pollutants occur in areas of convergence, in localized updrafts and in distinct pockets over the lake surfaces. These effects are caused by lake circulations interacting with the synoptic flow, with each other or with circulations induced by urban heat islands. Biogenic and anthropogenic emissions were both shown to play a role in the formation of SOA in the region. Detailed particle measurements and multivariate receptor models reveal that while individual particles are internally mixed, they often exist within more complex external mixtures. This makes it difficult to predict aerosol optical properties and further highlights the challenges facing aerosol modelling. The BAQS-Met study has led to a better understanding of the value of high-resolution (2.5 km) modelling for air quality and meteorological predictions and has led to several model improvements.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Sarwar ◽  
K. W. Appel ◽  
A. G. Carlton ◽  
R. Mathur ◽  
K. Schere ◽  
...  

Abstract. A new condensed toluene mechanism is incorporated into the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling system. Model simulations are performed using the CB05 chemical mechanism containing the existing (base) and the new toluene mechanism for the western and eastern US for a summer month. With current estimates of tropospheric emission burden, the new toluene mechanism increases monthly mean daily maximum 8-h ozone by 1.0–3.0 ppbv in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, northeastern US, and Detroit compared to that with the base toluene chemistry. It reduces model mean bias for ozone at elevated observed ozone concentrations. While the new mechanism increases predicted ozone, it does not enhance ozone production efficiency. A sensitivity study suggests that it can further enhance ozone if elevated toluene emissions are present. While it increases in-cloud secondary organic aerosol substantially, its impact on total fine particle mass concentration is small.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruili Wu ◽  
Christopher W. Tessum ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Chaopeng Hong ◽  
Yixuan Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract. This paper presents the first development and evaluation of the reduced-complexity air quality model for China. In this study, a reduced-complexity air quality intervention model over China (InMAPv1.6.1-China, hereafter, InMAP-China) is developed by linking a regional air quality model, a reduced-complexity air quality model, an emission inventory database for China, and a health impact assessment model to rapidly estimate the air quality and health impacts of emission sources in China. The modelling system is applied over mainland China for 2017 under various emission scenarios. A comprehensive model evaluation is conducted by comparison against conventional CMAQ simulations and ground-based observations. We found that InMAP-China satisfactorily predicted total PM2.5 concentrations in terms of statistical performance. Compared with the observed PM2.5 concentrations, the mean bias (MB), normalized mean bias (NMB), and correlations of the total PM2.5 concentrations are −8.1 μg/m3, −18 %, and 0.6, respectively. The statistical performance is considered to be satisfactory for a reduced-complexity air quality model and remains consistent with that evaluated in the United States. The underestimation of total PM2.5 concentrations was mainly caused by its composition, primary PM2.5. In terms of the ability to quantify source contributions of PM2.5 concentrations, InMAP-China presents similar results in comparison with those based on the CMAQ model, the difference is mainly caused by the different mechanism and the treatment of secondary inorganic aerosols in the two models. Focusing on the health impacts, the annual PM2.5-related premature mortality estimated using InMAP-China in 2017 was 1.92 million, which was 25 ten thousand deaths lower than that estimated based on CMAQ simulations as a result of underestimation of PM2.5 concentrations. This work presents a version of the reduced-complexity air quality model over China, provides a powerful tool to rapidly assess the air quality and health impacts associated with control policy, and to quantify the source contribution attributable to many emission sources.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Shibata ◽  
Tazuko Morikawa

Around 1997, when JCAP (the Japan Clean Air Program) began, Japan’s atmospheric environment did not meet the environmental standards for NO2 and suspended particle matters (SPM), and strict reduction requirements for automobile exhaust gas were required. To achieve environmental standards, further cooperation between the automobile technology and fuel technology sectors was needed. In Europe and the United States, Auto-Oil programs were being implemented to reduce automobile exhaust gas, and JCAP was established as an Auto-Oil program in Japan. The Air Quality Model Study was one of the research themes and research activities continued for a total of 21 years, including JCAP I/II and JATOP I/II/III (the Japan AuTo Oil Program). JATOP was the successor program of JCAP. This paper describes the outline and main results of the JCAP/JATOP Air Quality Model Study.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumil Thakrar ◽  
Christopher Tessum ◽  
Joshua Apte ◽  
Srinidhi Balasubramanian ◽  
Dylan B Millet ◽  
...  

<p>Each year, millions of premature deaths worldwide are caused by exposure to outdoor air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). Designing policies to reduce deaths relies on air quality modeling for estimating changes in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations from many policy scenarios at high spatial resolution. However, air quality modeling typically has high requirements for computation and expertise, which limits policy design, especially in countries where most PM<sub>2.5</sub>-related deaths occur. Lower requirement reduced-complexity models exist but are generally unavailable worldwide. Here, we adapt InMAP, a reduced-complexity model originally developed for the United States, to simulate annual-average primary and secondary PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations across a global-through-urban spatial domain: “Global InMAP”. Global InMAP uses a variable resolution grid, with 4 km horizontal grid cell widths in cities. We evaluate Global InMAP performance both against measurements and a state-of-the-science chemical transport model, GEOS-Chem. For the emission scenarios considered, Global InMAP reproduced GEOS-Chem pollutant concentrations with a normalized mean bias of 59%–121%. Global InMAP can be run on a desktop computer; simulations here took 2.6–4.4 hours. This work presents a global, open-source, reduced-complexity air quality model to facilitate air pollution policy assessment worldwide, providing a tool for reducing the deaths where they occur most.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 11111-11166
Author(s):  
J. R. Brook ◽  
P. A. Makar ◽  
D. M. L. Sills ◽  
K. L. Hayden ◽  
R. McLaren

Abstract. This paper serves as an overview and discusses the main findings from the Border Air Quality and Meteorology Study (BAQS-Met) in southwestern Ontario in 2007. This region is dominated by the Great Lakes, shares borders with the United States and consistently experiences the highest ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter in Canada. The purpose of BAQS-Met was to improve our understanding of how lake-driven meteorology impacts air quality in the region, and to improve models used for forecasting and policy scenarios. Results show that lake breeze occurrence frequencies and inland penetration distances were significantly greater than realized in the past. Due to their effect on local meteorology, the lakes were found to enhance secondary O3 and aerosol formation such that local anthropogenic emissions have their impact closer to the populated source areas than would otherwise occur in the absence of the lakes. Substantial spatial heterogeneity in O3 was observed with local peaks typically 30 ppb above the regional values. Sulphate and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) enhancements were also linked to local emissions being transported in the lake breeze circulations. This study included the first detailed evaluation of regional applications of a high resolution (2.5 km grid) air quality model in the Great Lakes region. The model showed that maxima in secondary pollutants occur in areas of convergence, in localized updrafts and in distinct pockets over the lake surfaces. These effects are caused by lake circulations interacting with the synoptic flow, with each other or with circulations induced by urban heat islands. Biogenic and anthropogenic emissions were both shown to play a role in the formation of SOA in the region. Detailed particle measurements and multivariate receptor models reveal that while individual particles are internally mixed, they often exist within more complex external mixtures. This makes it difficult to predict aerosol optical properties and further highlights the challenges facing aerosol modelling. The BAQS-Met study has led to a better understanding of the value of high resolution (2.5 km) modeling for air quality and meteorological predictions and has led to several model improvements.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumil Thakrar ◽  
Christopher Tessum ◽  
Joshua Apte ◽  
Srinidhi Balasubramanian ◽  
Dylan B Millet ◽  
...  

<p>Each year, millions of premature deaths worldwide are caused by exposure to outdoor air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). Designing policies to reduce deaths relies on air quality modeling for estimating changes in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations from many policy scenarios at high spatial resolution. However, air quality modeling typically has high requirements for computation and expertise, which limits policy design, especially in countries where most PM<sub>2.5</sub>-related deaths occur. Lower requirement reduced-complexity models exist but are generally unavailable worldwide. Here, we adapt InMAP, a reduced-complexity model originally developed for the United States, to simulate annual-average primary and secondary PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations across a global-through-urban spatial domain: “Global InMAP”. Global InMAP uses a variable resolution grid, with 4 km horizontal grid cell widths in cities. We evaluate Global InMAP performance both against measurements and a state-of-the-science chemical transport model, GEOS-Chem. For the emission scenarios considered, Global InMAP reproduced GEOS-Chem pollutant concentrations with a normalized mean bias of 59%–121%. Global InMAP can be run on a desktop computer; simulations here took 2.6–4.4 hours. This work presents a global, open-source, reduced-complexity air quality model to facilitate air pollution policy assessment worldwide, providing a tool for reducing the deaths where they occur most.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 6075-6115 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wen ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
J. C. Lin ◽  
R. Vet ◽  
M. D. Moran

Abstract. A bi-directional air-surface exchange scheme for atmospheric ammonia was incorporated into the Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport air quality model (STILT-Chem v0.8). STILT-Chem v0.8 was then applied to simulate atmospheric ammonia concentrations at 53 measurement sites in the province of Ontario, Canada for a six-month period from 1 June to 30 November 2006. In addition to the bi-directional scheme, two uni-directional dry deposition schemes were tested. Comparisons of modeled ammonia concentrations against observations show that all three schemes can reasonably predict observations. For sites with low observed ammonia concentrations, the bi-directional scheme clearly overestimated ammonia concentrations. Although all three schemes tend to underestimate ammonia concentrations for locations with elevated observed concentrations, the bi-directional scheme performed better due mainly to its introduction of compensation points into flux calculation parameterizations. The results of additional sensitivity tests suggest that uncertainties in the input values of emission potentials in the bi-directional scheme greatly affect the accuracy of modeled ammonia concentrations. The use of much larger emission potentials than provided in the scheme is required for accurate prediction of elevated ammonia concentrations at intensive agricultural locations.


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