Title: Application of chemical dispersion model during a high ozone episode in South-West Poland

Authors: Kinga Wałaszek; Maciej Kryza; Malgorzata Werner

Addresses: Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Kosiby 8, 51-621 Wroclaw, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Kosiby 8, 51-621 Wroclaw, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Kosiby 8, 51-621 Wroclaw, Poland

Abstract: In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model with chemistry (WRF-Chem v3.5) is applied to the area of Poland, for a period of 03.07-03.08.2006, when high concentrations of ground level ozone were observed. The meteorological and chemistry simulations were initiated with the ERA-Interim reanalysis and the TNO MACC-II emissions database. Simulations were performed for three one-way nested domains. The results from the innermost domain were examined and compared to measurements of ozone concentrations and meteorological variables. The modelled results show a general underestimation of measured ozone concentrations. For urban and suburban sites it is significantly higher during day time. Domain-wide estimations of temperature were also underestimated, and relative humidity and wind speed were overpredicted. The results may be further improved by adjusting physical parameterisations and including a more detailed emission input data into the model.

Keywords: air quality; air pollution; tropospheric ozone; WRF-Chem; Poland; model evaluation; chemical transport modelling; meteorological models; photochemical smog; critical levels; atmospheric dispersion modelling; simulation; ozone concentrations; temperature estimations; humidity; wind speed; pollutant emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.076589

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.58 No.1/2, pp.124 - 139

Received: 26 Dec 2014
Accepted: 28 Dec 2015
Published online: 16 May 2016 *

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