Title: Modelling meteorological conditions for the episode (December 2009) of measured high PM₁₀ air concentrations in SW Poland - application of the WRF model

Authors: Maciej Kryza; Małgorzata Werner; Anthony J. Dore; Massimo Vieno; Marek Błaś; Anetta Drzeniecka-Osiadacz; Paweł Netzel

Addresses: Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland ' Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Modlothian, EH26 0QB, UK ' Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Modlothian, EH26 0QB, UK ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland

Abstract: The weather research and forecasting model has been applied to derive information on meteorological variables for the period with high concentrations of PM₁₀ (1-30 December 2009) in SW Poland. Three one-way nested domains have been used and the results for the innermost domain have been compared with surface and radiosonde meteorological measurements for pressure (PRES), air temperature (TMP), specific humidity (SPFH), wind speed (WIND) and direction (WDIR). The model results are in good agreement with the surface measurements for TMP, PRES and SPFH, with the index of agreement (IOA) above 0.9. The model underestimate the observed PRES, TMP and SPFH except for the mountainous site Śnieżka. The WIND is biased high, the overall IOA is 0.62, and range from 0.41 to 0.73 for all stations. The IOA is above 0.73 for TMP and SPFH for radiosonde measurements and the errors decrease with height.

Keywords: weather research; weather forecasting; WRF; meteorological modelling; air quality; PM10 air pollution; atmospheric dispersion modelling; Poland; radiosonde; pressure; air temperature; specific humidity; wind speed; wind direction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2012.051179

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2012 Vol.50 No.1/2/3/4, pp.41 - 52

Published online: 19 Nov 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article