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THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF NOAA'S AIR QUALITY FORECASTING PROGRAM
Citation:
Stockwell, W. R., R. S. Artz, J. Meagher, R. A. Petersen, K L. Schere, G. A. Grell, S. E. Peckham, A. F. Stein, R. V. Pierce, J. M. O'Sullivan, AND P. Y. Whung. THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF NOAA'S AIR QUALITY FORECASTING PROGRAM. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER 8:20-27, (2002).
Impact/Purpose:
The objectives of this task are to continuously develop and improve EPA's mesoscale (regional through urban scale) air quality simulation models, such as the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, as air quality management and NAAQS implementation tools. CMAQ is a multiscale and multi-pollutant chemistry-transport model (CTM) that includes the necessary critical science process modules for atmospheric transport, deposition, cloud mixing, emissions, gas- and aqueous-phase chemical transformation processes, and aerosol dynamics and chemistry. To achieve the advances in CMAQ, research will be conducted to develop and test appropriate chemical and physical mechanisms, improve the accuracy of emissions and dry deposition algorithms, and to develop and improve state-of-the-science meteorology models and contributing process parameterizations.
Description:
For many years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has conducted atmospheric research, including chemical and physical measurements, process studies, and the development and evaluation of experimental meteorological and photochemical air quality models. A critical part of NOAA's mission is to provide national environmental forecasts. In response to requests by the U.S. Congress and the National Academy of Sciences, NOAA's mission is being expanded to include forecasts of air quality based on a system of meteorological, photochemical, and emissions models. As a result, NOAA is developing and implementing an air quality modeling system proposed for initial operation in 2004 for forecasting time-resolved ozone and fine particulate matter (PM) nationwide. To do this, NOAA will transition research into an operational system for air quality forecasting.