Title: Evaluation of WRF model performance in different European regions with the DELTA-FAIRMODE evaluation tool

Authors: Mario Marcello Miglietta; Philippe Thunis; Emilia Georgieva; Anna Pederzoli; Bertrand Bessagnet; Etienne Terrenoire; Augustin Colette

Addresses: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate-National Research Council (ISAC-CNR), strada provinciale Lecce-Monteroni km 1,200, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Institute of Ecosystem Study-National Research Council (ISE-CNR), largo Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy ' Institute for Environment and Sustainability-Joint Research Center (IES-JRC), Via Enrico Fermi 2749, Ispra, Italy ' Institute for Environment and Sustainability-Joint Research Center (IES-JRC), Via Enrico Fermi 2749, Ispra, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione (DII), Università di Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy ' National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS), 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, Paris, France ' National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS), 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, Paris, France ' National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS), 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, Paris, France

Abstract: One-year (2006) WRF model simulations performed at a European scale and ECMWF-IFS forecasts are compared with 10 m wind speed and 2 m temperature observations from around 1,200 surface stations. A statistical evaluation on the modelled meteorological fields is performed using the DELTA software, developed in the framework of FAIRMODE, the forum for air quality modellers relevant to the application of the European Air Quality Directive. In terms of wind speed, ECMWF forecasts are pretty good over most of the domain, while WRF model simulations are less skillful, e.g., they show a larger bias and RMSE. Regarding 2 m temperature, performance criteria are better satisfied by both modelling systems. Finally, the models' statistics are exemplified in a couple of specific areas: near Berlin, one of the urban areas showing a better model performance, and in the Alpine region, where the model skill is very poor.

Keywords: meteorological models; FAIRMODE; statistical scores; evaluation tools; numerical weather prediction; NWP; WRF model; air pollution; air quality; model validation; benchmarking; simulation; atmospheric dispersion modelling; Europe; wind speed; temperature; urban areas; Alpine region.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2012.051183

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2012 Vol.50 No.1/2/3/4, pp.83 - 97

Published online: 19 Nov 2014 *

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