Title: The coupled chemistry-meteorology model BOLCHEM: an application to air pollution in the Po Valley (Italy) hot spot

Authors: Rita Cesari; Tony C. Landi; Alberto Maurizi

Addresses: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, CNR, Strada Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni Km 1,200, 73100 Lecce, Italy ' Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, CNR, Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy ' Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, CNR, Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy

Abstract: We present the model performance of the online air quality model BOLCHEM on seasonal period (year 2010) in an air pollution hot spot located in Northern Italy. Simulated surface concentrations of pollutants are compared with those measured at background AirBase stations. Particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) is investigated for winter and summer period. The correlation coefficient R is 0.6 for both pollutants and in both seasons. In the winter period, the PM_2.5 ground concentration is underestimated by 6.5% on average, the PM₁₀ ground concentration is underestimated by 7.8% on average. In the summer period, the PM_2.5 average ground concentration is underestimated by 0.7% on average, while the PM10 average ground concentration is underestimated by 20% on average. The last result suggests that PM₁₀ from Saharan dust storms is underestimated. Ozone (O₃) ground concentration is considered only in summer period. It is well reproduced, the correlation coefficient R is 0.7.

Keywords: online air quality model; BOLCHEM; air pollution; hot spot; particulate matter; PM₁₀; PM_2.5; ozone; Po Valley; Italy; air quality modelling; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2019.101830

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2019 Vol.65 No.1/2/3, pp.1 - 24

Received: 24 Jan 2018
Accepted: 02 Dec 2018
Published online: 28 Aug 2019 *

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