Title: Evaluation of the CHIMERE model estimating wet deposition in Spain

Authors: Fernando Martín; Marta Garcia Vivanco; Juan Luis Garrido; Inmaculada Palomino

Addresses: Atmospheric Pollution Division, CIEMAT, Avda, Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain ' Atmospheric Pollution Division, CIEMAT, Avda, Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain ' Atmospheric Pollution Division, CIEMAT, Avda, Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain ' Atmospheric Pollution Division, CIEMAT, Avda, Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: An evaluation of how CHIMERE estimates the wet deposition of sulphur and nitrogen (oxidised and reduced) on the Iberian Peninsula was performed. The CHIMERE estimates were compared with monthly data measured in the Spanish EMEP stations covering a period of four years (2005-2008) and with results of the EMEP model. The seasonal and spatial variability have also been studied. The model system formed by WRF and CHIMERE underpredicts the wet deposition of reduced nitrogen, while the results for oxidised nitrogen are better than those of the ECMWF-IFS/EMEP model system. WRF/CHIMERE estimates of wet deposition of sulphur seem to correlate quite well with observations, but there is some slight underprediction. Monthly rainfall estimates by both WRF and ECMWF-IFS meteorological models fit observations quite well, with somewhat worse results in summer and at southeastern stations. The reason why wet deposition estimates are not as good as desirable seems not to be related to how the models simulate precipitation.

Keywords: model evaluation; pollutant deposition; sulphur; oxidised nitrogen; reduced nitrogen; Spain; CHIMERE model; wet deposition; performance evaluation; model performance; rainfall estimates; simulation; meteorological modelling; air pollution; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.074510

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.57 No.3/4, pp.261 - 271

Received: 17 Dec 2014
Accepted: 07 Oct 2015

Published online: 02 Feb 2016 *

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