Title: Spline interpolation for modelling of accumulated effects of ozone

Authors: Hristo Chervenkov; Ivan Dimov; Zahari Zlatev

Addresses: Department of Meteorology, National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. 66, 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria ' Department of Parallel Algorithms, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Acad. G. Bonchev 25 A, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria ' Department of Environmental Science – Atmospheric Environment, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Building ATMI, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: An alternative approach for computing exposure indices, such as AOT40 of the ground-level ozone, is considered in this paper. The aim of the study is to compare it with the traditional way of calculating the exposure indices in order to discover possible weaknesses or strengths of both approaches. The problem under consideration is of great importance when modelling results, obtained after running large-scale air pollution models, have to be compared with experimental data. Usually the data are received in a form of mesh-function. At the same time, accumulated effects have to be considered as integrals of smooth (at least continuous) functions. Cubic spline interpolation over data of ozone concentrations is considered as a tool for computing accumulated effects. Practical computations include estimations for measurements of several stations over Europe for two different years. The results obtained with the proposed procedure are compared with those achieved from the calculations according to the classical definition.

Keywords: environmental pollution; cubic spline interpolation; ozone indexes; alternative AOT calculation; accumulated ozone exposure; error analysis; modelling; ozone effects; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2014.064048

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2014 Vol.54 No.1, pp.17 - 31

Received: 26 Jun 2013
Accepted: 11 Mar 2014

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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