Advancements in the design and validation of an air pollution integrated assessment model for Spain

This paper describes the design and application of the Atmospheric Evaluation and Research Integrated model for Spain (AERIS). Currently, AERIS can provide concentration profiles of NO₂, O₃, SO₂, NH₃, PM, as a response to emission variations of relevant sectors in Spain. Results are calculated using transfer matrices based on an air quality modelling system (AQMS) composed by the WRF (meteorology), SMOKE (emissions) and CMAQ (atmospheric-chemical processes) models. The AERIS outputs were statistically tested against the conventional AQMS and observations, revealing a good agreement in both cases. At the moment, integrated assessment in AERIS focuses only on the link between emissions and concentrations. The quantification of deposition, impacts (health, ecosystems) and costs will be introduced in the future. In conclusion, the main asset of AERIS is its accuracy in predicting air quality outcomes for different scenarios through a simple yet robust modelling framework, avoiding complex programming and long computing times.     

PM10 remote sensing from geostationary SEVIRI and polar-orbiting MODIS sensors over the complex terrain of the European Alpine region

The subject of this study is to investigate the capability of spaceborne remote sensing data to predict ground concentrations of PM₁₀ over the European Alpine region using satellite derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from the geostationary Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) and the polar-orbiting MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The spatial and temporal resolutions of these aerosol products (10 km and 2 measurements per day for MODIS, ∼ 25 km and observation intervals of 15 min for SEVIRI) permit an evaluation of PM estimation from space at different spatial and temporal scales. Different empirical linear relationships between coincident AOD and PM₁₀ observations are evaluated at 13 ground-based PM measurement sites, with the assumption that aerosols are vertically homogeneously distributed below the planetary Boundary Layer Height (BLH). The BLH and Relative Humidity (RH) variability are assessed, as well as their impact on the parameterization. The BLH has a strong influence on the correlation of daily and hourly time series, whilst RH effects are less clear and smaller in magnitude. Despite its lower spatial resolution and AOD accuracy, SEVIRI shows higher correlations than MODIS (r_SEV∼ 0.7, r_MOD∼ 0.6) with regard to daily averaged PM₁₀. Advantages from MODIS arise only at hourly time scales in mountainous locations but lower correlations were found for both sensors at this time scale (r∼ 0.45). Moreover, the fraction of days in 2008 with at least one satellite observation was 27% for SEVIRI and 17% for MODIS. These results suggest that the frequency of observations plays an important role in PM monitoring, while higher spatial resolution does not generally improve the PM estimation. Ground-based Sun Photometer (SP) measurements are used to validate the satellite-based AOD in the study region and to discuss the impact of aerosols' micro-physical properties in the empirical models. A lower error limit of 30 to 60% in the PM₁₀ assessment from space is estimated in the study area as a result of AOD uncertainties, variability of aerosols properties and the heterogeneity of ground measurement sites. It is concluded that SEVIRI has a similar capacity to map PM as sensors on board polar-orbiting platforms, with the advantage of a higher number of observations. However, the accuracy represents a serious limitation to the applicability of satellites for ground PM mapping, especially in mountainous areas.     

A numerical approach for planning offshore wind farms from regional to local scales over the Mediterranean

Renewable energy resources, such as wind, are available worldwide. Locating areas with high and continual wind sources are crucial in pre-planning of wind farms. Vast offshore areas are characterized by higher and more reliable wind resources in comparison with continental areas. However, offshore wind energy production is in a quite preliminary phase. Elaborating the potential productivity of wind farms over such areas is challenging due to sparse in situ observations. The Mediterranean basin is not an exception. In this study we are proposing numerical simulations of near-surface wind fields from regional climate models (RCMs) in order to obtain and fill the gaps in observations over the Mediterranean basin. Four simulations produced with two regional climate models are examined here. Remote sensing observations (QuikSCAT satellite) are used to assess the skill of the simulated fields. A technique for estimating the potential energy from the wind fields over the region is introduced. The wind energy potential atlas and the map of a wind turbine's functional range are presented, locating the potentially interesting sub-regions for wind farms. The ability of models to reproduce the annual cycle and the probability density function of wind speed anomalies are detailed for specified sub-regions.     

石羊河流域面雨量预报方法研究

利用1996-2008年ECMWF数值预报格点场资料和石羊河流域内6个气象站降水资料、2007-2008年47个加密自动区域站降水资料,采用Press准则进行预报因子初选,用逐步回归方法进行预报因子精选,运用最优子集回归建立石羊河流各县区域冷、暖季1～7 d降水量预报方程。以各县区降水客观预报产品为基础,采用线性插值方法,将县区降水预报插值到各县区内的区域站点上,使用算术平均法,制作了石羊河流域1～7 d面雨量预报模式。面雨量预报模式投入业务试应用,预报能力较强,取得了较好的预报服务效果,为流域面雨量预报提供了客观有效的指导产品。     

ECMWF集合降水预报在长江流域应用性能评估

欧洲中期天气预报中心(ECMWF)集合预报系统被广泛应用于降水预报中,但由于长江流域地形、气候条件复杂,该系统在长江流域的应用性能有待进一步评估。利用2015年4月至2018年6月汛期(4～10月)ECMWF集合预报系统(EPS)输出的降水预报结果和全国2 000多个站日降雨观测资料,基于Brier评分、Talagrand分布、ROC分析等方法,研究了ECMWF集合预报在长江流域降水的预报性能。结果表明:①Talagrand分布表明,模式对小量级的降水预报概率偏高,而对大量级的降水预报概率偏低;ECMWF集合预报系统存在短期预报发散度不够的情况。②Brier评分表明,在同量级降水预报中,预报时效越长,准确性越低;ECMWF集合系统在近4年的降水预报有相对稳定的Brier评分。③ROC分析表明,各个时效,同量级降水预报的准确性差异不大。总体来说,不论离散度还是准确性,ECMWF集合预报系统还存在一定的系统性偏差,需要进行统计后处理订正来消除此类偏差。     

基于ECMWF模型改正InSAR大气延迟误差的可靠性实验

大气延迟是影响InSAR观测数据质量的最主要因素之一.然而,这一难题一直没有很好的解决办法.近年来,采用气象模型改正InSAR大气延迟误差是一个热门的研究方向,不过其有效性和可推广性还需要一些实验来检验.本文采用青藏高原中部的InSAR数据检验基于ECMWF模型改正InSAR大气延迟误差的有效性.结果显示本实验采用的8幅干涉图中只有3幅在改正后方差减小,而所有数据的平均方差比改正之前更大,证明该模型无法很好地改正该地区InSAR的大气延迟误差.鉴于目前尚无可靠的方法判断何时何地ECMWF模型对InSAR大气延迟误差有改进作用,建议谨慎采用该模型改正大气延迟误差.