Title: Uncertainty analysis of modelling studies included in air quality assessments

Authors: N. Moussiopoulos, P. Sahm, S. Munchow, D. Tonnesen, F. de Leeuw, L. Tarrason

Addresses: Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2027 Kjeller, Norway. RIVM, 3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands. Norwegian Meteorological Institute, 0313 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: This paper deals with the development of a quality analysis/quality control (QA/QC) methodology for modelling studies associated with air quality assessments. Among other benefits, this will allow data quality objectives for model input data to be derived and the importance of policy oriented model applications to be assessed. The procedure for evaluating model uncertainty has profited from a web-based literature review on similar previous work. Input data specifications for the application scenario have been derived from relevant information included in the Model Documentation System of the European Topic Centre on Air Quality. Variation ranges have been selected to reflect the usual input data uncertainties. The proposed methodology is presented and demonstrated for urban scale photochemical applications using OFIS as a ||demonstration model||.

Keywords: atmospheric modelling; input data; sensitivity testing; uncertainty analysis methodology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2001.000615

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2001 Vol.16 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.175-190

Published online: 07 Jul 2003 *

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