scholarly journals Multimodel simulations of a springtime dust storm over northeastern China: implications of an evaluation of four commonly used air quality models (CMAQ v5.2.1, CAMx v6.50, CHIMERE v2017r4, and WRF-Chem v3.9.1)

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4603-4625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqi Ma ◽  
Xuelei Zhang ◽  
Chao Gao ◽  
Daniel Q. Tong ◽  
Aijun Xiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Dust Event ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Dust Source ◽  
Quality Models

Abstract. Mineral dust particles play an important role in the Earth system, imposing a variety of effects on air quality, climate, human health, and economy. Accurate forecasts of dust events are highly desirable to provide an early warning and inform the decision-making process. East Asia is one of the largest dust sources in the world. This study applies and evaluates four widely used regional air quality models to simulate dust storms in northeastern China. Three dust schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) (version 3.9.1), two schemes in both CHIMERE (version 2017r4) and CMAQ (version 5.2.1), and one scheme in CAMx (version 6.50) were applied to a dust event during 4–6 May 2015 in northeastern China. Most of these models were able to capture this dust event with the exception of CAMx, which has no dust source map covering the study area; hence, another dust source mask map was introduced to replace the default one for the subsequent simulation. Although these models reproduced the spatial pattern of the dust plume, there were large discrepancies between predicted and observed PM10 concentrations in each model. In general, CHIMERE had relatively better performance among all simulations with default configurations. After parameter tuning, WRF-Chem with the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) scheme using a seasonal dust source map from Ginoux et al. (2012) showed the best performance, followed by WRF-Chem with the UOC_Shao2004 scheme, CHIMERE, and CMAQ. The performance of CAMx had significantly improved by substituting the default dust map and removing the friction velocity limitation. This study suggested that the dust source maps should be carefully selected on a regional scale or replaced with a new one constructed with local data. Moreover, further study and measurement of sandblasting efficiency of different soil types and locations should be conducted to improve the accuracy of estimated vertical dust fluxes in air quality models.

scholarly journals Multi-model simulations of springtime dust storms in East Asia: Implications of an evaluation of four commonly used air quality models (CMAQv5.2.1, CAMxv6.50, CHIMEREv2017r4, and WRF-Chem v3.9.1)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqi Ma ◽  
Xuelei Zhang ◽  
Chao Gao ◽  
Daniel Q. Tong ◽  
Aijun Xiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Dust Event ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Dust Source ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Dust Flux

Abstract. Mineral dust particles play an important role in the Earth system, imposing a variety of effects on air quality, climate, human health, and economy. Accurate forecasts of dust events are highly desirable to provide early-warning and inform decision-making. East Asia is one of the largest dust sources in the world. This study applies and evaluates four widely used regional air quality models to simulate dust storms in East Asia. Three dust schemes in the Weather Research and Forecast with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) (version 3.9.1), two schemes in CHIMERE (version 2017r4) and CMAQ (version 5.2), and one scheme in CAMx (version 6.50), were applied to a dust event during May 4th~6th, 2015 in Northeastern China. Most of these models were able to capture this dust event, except CAMx which has no dust source map covering the study area, hence is excluded from subsequent analysis. Although these models reproduced the spatial pattern of the dust plume, there were large discrepancies between predicted and observed PM10 concentrations in each model. In general, CHIMERE had relatively better performance among all simulations with default configurations. After parameter tuning, WRF-Chem with the AFWA scheme using seasonal dust source map from Ginoux et al. (2012) showed the best performance, followed by WRF-Chem with UOC_Shao2011 scheme, CHIMERE, and CMAQ. This study suggested that the dust source maps should be carefully selected or replaced with a new one constructed with local data. Moreover, further study and measurement on sandblasting efficiency of different soil types and locations should be conducted to improve the accuracy of estimated vertical dust flux in air quality models.

Evaluating Regional-Scale Air Quality Models

2008 ◽  
pp. 412-419
Author(s):  
Alice B. Gilliland ◽  
James M. Godowitch ◽  
Christian Hogrefe ◽  
S. T. Rao
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Quality Models

The Evaluation of Regional — Scale Air Quality Models

2004 ◽  
pp. 463-470
Author(s):  
Daiwen Kang ◽  
Brian K. Eder ◽  
Kenneth L. Schere
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Quality Models

scholarly journals Source, transport and impacts of a heavy dust event in the Yangtze River Delta, China in 2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 21507-21540
Author(s):  
X. Fu ◽  
S. X. Wang ◽  
Z. Cheng ◽  
J. Xing ◽  
B. Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
Dust Event ◽  
The Yrd ◽  
The Yangtze River Delta

Abstract. During 1 to 6 May 2011, a dust event was observed in the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD). The highest PM10 concentration reached over 1000 μg m−3 and the visibility was below 3 km. In this study, the Community Multi-scale Air Quality modeling system (CMAQ5.0) coupled with an in-line windblown dust model was used to simulate the formation, spatial and temporal characteristics of this dust event, and analyze its impacts on deposition and photochemistry. The threshold friction velocity for loose smooth surface in the dust model was revised based on Chinese data to improve the model performance. The comparison between predictions and observations indicates the revised model can reproduce the transport and pollution of the event. The simulation results show that the dust event was affected by formation and transport of Mongolian cyclone and cold air. Totally about 695 kt dust particles (PM10) were emitted in Xinjiang Province and Mongolia during 28 to 30 April, the dust band swept northern, eastern China and then arrived in the YRD region on 1 May 2011. The transported dust particles increased the mean surface layer concentrations of PM10 in the YRD region by 372% during 1 to 6 May and the impacts weakened from north to south due to the removal of dust particles along the path. Accompanied by high PM concentration, the dry deposition, wet deposition and total deposition of PM10 in the YRD reached 184.7 kt, 172.6 kt and 357.32 kt, respectively. These deposited particles are very harmful because of their impacts on urban environment as well as air quality and human health when resuspending in the atmosphere. Due to the impacts of mineral dust on atmospheric photolysis, the concentrations of O3 and OH were reduced by 1.5% and 3.1% in the whole China, and by 9.4% and 12.1% in the YRD region, respectively. The work of this manuscript is meaningful for understanding the dust emissions in China as well as for the application of CMAQ in Asia. It is also helpful to understand the formation mechanism and impacts of dust pollution in the YRD.

scholarly journals Technical Note – AQMEII4 Activity 1: Evaluation of Wet and Dry Deposition Schemes as an Integral Part of Regional-Scale Air Quality Models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Galmarini ◽  
Paul Makar ◽  
Olivia Clifton ◽  
Christian Hogrefe ◽  
Jesse Bash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Dry Deposition ◽  
Model Evaluation ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Evaluation Activity ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Wet And Dry Deposition ◽  
Regional Air Quality

Abstract. We present in this technical note the research protocol for Phase 4 of the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII4). This research initiative is divided in two activities, collectively having three goals: (i) to define the current state of the science with respect to representations of wet and especially dry deposition in regional models, (ii) to quantify the extent to which different dry deposition parameterizations influence retrospective air pollutant concentration and flux predictions, and (iii) to identify, through the use of a common set of detailed diagnostics, sensitivity simulations, model evaluation, and reducing input uncertainty, the specific causes for the current range of these predictions. Activity 1 is dedicated to the diagnostic evaluation of wet and dry deposition processes in regional air quality models (described in this paper), and Activity 2 to the evaluation of dry deposition point models against ozone flux measurements at multiple towers with multiyear observations (Part 2). The scope of these papers is to present the scientific protocols for AQMEII4, as well to summarize the technical information associated with the different dry deposition approaches used by the participating research groups of AQMEII4. In addition to describing all common aspects and data used for this multi-model evaluation activity, most importantly, we present the strategy devised to allow a common process-level comparison of dry deposition obtained from models using sometimes very different dry deposition schemes. The strategy is based on adding detailed diagnostics to the algorithms used in the dry deposition modules of existing regional air quality models, in particular archiving land use/land cover (LULC)-specific diagnostics and creating standardized LULC categories to facilitate cross-comparison of LULC-specific dry deposition parameters and processes, as well as archiving effective conductance and effective flux as means for comparing the relative influence of different pathways towards the net or total dry deposition. This new approach, along with an analysis of precipitation and wet deposition fields, will provide an unprecedented process-oriented comparison of deposition in regional air-quality models. Examples of how specific dry deposition schemes used in participating models have been reduced to the common set of comparable diagnostics defined for AQMEII4 are also presented.

scholarly journals On the Limit to the Accuracy of Regional-Scale Air Quality Models

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Trivikrama Rao ◽  
Huiying Luo ◽  
Marina Astitha ◽  
Christian Hogrefe ◽  
Valerie Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Averaged Model ◽  
Air Pollution Models

Abstract. Regional-scale air pollution models are routinely being used world-wide for research, forecasting air quality, and regulatory purposes. It is well known that there are both reducible and irreducible uncertainties in the meteorology-atmospheric chemistry modeling systems. Inherent or irreducible uncertainties stem from our inability to properly characterize stochastic variations in atmospheric dynamics and from the incommensurability associated with comparisons of the volume-averaged model estimates with point measurements. Because stochastic variations in atmospheric dynamics and emissions forcing influencing the air pollutant concentrations are difficult to explicitly simulate, one can expect to find a percentile value from the distribution of measured concentrations to have much greater variability than that of the model. This paper presents an observation-based methodology to determine the expected errors from regional air quality models even when the model design, physics, chemistry, and numerical analysis techniques as well as its input data were perfect. To this end, the short-term synoptic-scale fluctuations embedded in the daily maximum 8-hr ozone time series are separated from the longer-term forcings using a simple recursive moving average filter. The inherent variability attributable to the stochastic nature of the atmosphere is determined based on 30+ years of historical ozone time series data measured at various monitoring sites in the contiguous United States. The results reveal that the expected root mean square error at the median and 95th percentile is about 2 ppb and 5 ppb, respectively, even for perfect air quality models driven with perfect input data. Quantitative estimation of the limit to the model's accuracy will help in objectively assessing the current state-of-the-science in regional air pollution models, measuring progress in their evolution, and providing meaningful and firm targets for improvements in their accuracy relative to ambient measurements.

inDust: International Network to encourage the use of monitoring and forecasting DUST products

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Basart ◽  
Slodoban Nickovic ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
End Users ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Economic Sectors

<p>Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) are extreme meteorological phenomena that generate significant amounts of airborne mineral dust particles. SDS plays a significant role in different aspects of weather, climate and atmospheric chemistry. Also, SDS represents a severe hazard for life, health, property, environment and economy, which is aligned with several Sustainable Developed Goal (SDG) targets established by the United Nations (UN). Understanding, managing, and mitigating SDS risks and effects requires fundamental and cross-disciplinary knowledge.</p><p>Over the last few years, there is an increasing need for SDS accurate information and predictions to support early warning systems, and preparedness and mitigation plans in addition to growing interest from diverse stakeholders, such as solar energy plant managers, health professionals, aviation and policymakers from environmental and health public sectors. Current attempts to transfer tailored products to end-users are not coordinated, and the same technological and social obstacles are tackled individually by all different groups, a process that makes the use of data slow and expensive.</p><p>The EU-funded COST Action inDust (www.cost-indust.eu, CA16202) has an overall objective to establish a network involving research institutions, service providers and potential end-users of information on airborne dust that can assist the diverse socio-economic sectors affected by the presence of high concentrations of atmospheric dust. In line with this main objective, the network is being worked on the identification and engagement of representatives of dust affected socio-economic sectors (targeting on air quality and health, aviation and solar energy) from different countries in Europe but also in North Africa and the Middle East. Moreover, the participation of South African, American and importantly Asian partners brings the possibility of extending the application of the developed products, protocols and tools well beyond the European borders, including areas like Asian regions where dust particles play a significant role in the air quality and meteorological processes.</p><p>The primary outcomes of the network are the identification of the needs of the various and new dust-related products and services able to satisfy these needs. As a result, the network has been working on a dust catalogue which includes an overview of (ground-based and satellite) observations and model products.</p>

scholarly journals Investigation of severe dust storms over the Pan-Eurasian area using multi-satellite observations and ground-based measurements

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu She ◽  
Yong Xue ◽  
Jie Guang ◽  
Yahui Che ◽  
Cheng Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Central China ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Hysplit Model

Abstract. The deserts in East Asia are one of the most influential mineral dust source regions in the world. Large amounts of dust particles are emitted and transported to distant regions. A super dust storm characterized by long-distance transport occurred over the Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) area in early May 2017. In this study, multi-satellite/sensor observations and ground-based measurements combined with the HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model were used to analyse the dynamical processes of the origin and transport of the strong dust storm. The optical and microphysical properties of the dust particles were analysed using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements. From the multi-satellite observations, the dust storms were suggested to have originated from the Gobi Desert on the morning of 3 May 2017, and it transported dust northeastward to the Bering Sea, eastward to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and southward to southern Central China. The air quality in China drastically deteriorated as a result of this heavy dust storm; the PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 mm in aerodynamic diameter) concentrations measured at some air quality stations located in northern China reached 4000 μg/m3. During the dust event, the maximum AOD values reached 3, 2.3, 2.8, and 0.65 with sharp drops in the extinction Ångström exponent (EAE) to 0.023, 0.068, 0.03, and 0.097 at AOE_Baotou, Beijing, Xuzhou-CUMT, and Ussuriysk, respectively. The dust storm introduced great variations in the aerosol property, causing totally different spectral single-scattering albedo (SSA) and volume size distribution (VSD). The combined observations revealed comprehensive information about the dynamic transport of dust and the dust affected regions, and the effect of dust storms on the aerosol properties.

scholarly journals Synergistic Use of Remote Sensing and Modeling for Tracing Dust Storms in the Mediterranean

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Kaskaoutis ◽  
A. K. Prasad ◽  
P. G. Kosmopoulos ◽  
P. R. Sinha ◽  
S. K. Kharol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Dust Source ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
532 Nm ◽  
Dust Source Region

This study focuses on the detection of the dust source region and monitoring of the transport of the dust plume from its primary outflow to final deposition. The application area is the Sahara desert and the eastern Mediterranean, where two dust events occurred during the period 4–6 February 2009, an unusual event for a winter period. The Aqua-MODIS and OMI observations clearly define the spatial distribution of the dust plumes, while the CALIPSO observations of total attenuated backscatter (TAB) at 532 nm, depolarization ratio (DR), and attenuated color ratio (1064/532 nm) on 5 February 2009 provide a clear view and vertical structure of the dust-laden layer. The dust source region is defined to be near the Chad-Niger-Libyan borders, using satellite observations and model (DREAM) output. This dust plume is vertically extended up to 2.5 km and is observed as a mass plume of dust from surface level to that altitude, where the vertical variation of TAB (0.002 to 0.2) and DR (0.2–0.5) implies dust-laden layer with non-spherical particles. CALIPSO profiles show that after the dust plume reached at its highest level, the dust particles start to be deposited over the Mediterranean and the initial dust plume was strongly attenuated, while features of dust were limited below about 1–1.5 km for latitudes northern of ~36° (Greek territory).

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