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A Multi-Model Assessment for the 2006 and 2010 Simulations under the AirQuality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) Phase 2 over North America: Part I. Indicators of the Sensitivity of O3 and PM2.5 Formation Regimes
Citation:
Campbell, P., Y. Zhang, K. Yahya, K. Wang, C. Hogrefe, G. Pouliot, C. Knote, A. Hodzic, R. San Jose, J. Perez, P. Guerrero, R. Baro, AND P. Makar. A Multi-Model Assessment for the 2006 and 2010 Simulations under the AirQuality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) Phase 2 over North America: Part I. Indicators of the Sensitivity of O3 and PM2.5 Formation Regimes. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 115:569-586, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s Atmospheric Modeling Division (AMAD) conducts research in support of EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. AMAD’s research program is engaged in developing and evaluating predictive atmospheric models on all spatial and temporal scales for forecasting the Nation’s air quality and for assessing changes in air quality and air pollutant exposures, as affected by changes in ecosystem management and regulatory decisions. AMAD is responsible for providing a sound scientific and technical basis for regulatory policies based on air quality models to improve ambient air quality. The models developed by AMAD are being used by EPA, NOAA, and the air pollution community in understanding and forecasting not only the magnitude of the air pollution problem, but also in developing emission control policies and regulations for air quality improvements.
Description:
Under the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative, Phase 2 (AQMEII-2), three online coupled air quality model simulations, with six different configurations, are analyzed for their performance, inter-model agreement, and responses to emission and meteorological changes between 2006 and 2010. In this Part I paper, we focus on evaluating O3 and PM2.5 indicator-based analyses, which are important in the development of applicable control strategies of O3 and PM2.5 pollution in different regions worldwide. The O3 indicators agree on widespread NOx-limited and localized VOC-limited conditions in the U.S. The NOy and O3/NOy indicators over predict the extent of the VOC-limited chemistry in southeast U.S., but are more robust than the H2O2/HNO3, HCHO/NOy, and HCHO/NO2 indicators at the surface, which exhibit relatively more inter-model variability. The column HCHO/NO2 indicator is under predicted in the O3 and non-O3 seasons, but there is regional variability. For surface PM2.5 indicators,there is good inter-model agreement for the degree of sulfate neutralization; however there are systematic under predictions in the southeast U.S. There is relatively poor inter-model agreement for the less robust adjusted gas ratio indicator, which is largely over predicted in the summer and both under and over predicted in winter in the southeast U.S. There is good inter-model agreement for the O3 indicator sensitivities, indicating a predominant shift to more NOx-limited conditions in 2010 relative to 2006. There is less agreement for PM2.5 indicator sensitivities, which are less robust, while indicating shifts to either regime due to different responses of aerosol treatments to changes in emissions and meteorology.
URLs/Downloads:
CAMPBELL ET AL._AQMEII-2 PAPER.AE.ACCEPTED.COMPLETE.FINAL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1473.008 KB, about PDF)Atmospheric Environment
