Articles | Volume 17, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-587-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-587-2024
Methods for assessment of models
 | 
25 Jan 2024
Methods for assessment of models |  | 25 Jan 2024

Sensitivity of air quality model responses to emission changes: comparison of results based on four EU inventories through FAIRMODE benchmarking methodology

Alexander de Meij, Cornelis Cuvelier, Philippe Thunis, Enrico Pisoni, and Bertrand Bessagnet

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Cited articles

Amann, M., Bertok, I., Borken-Kleefeld, J., Cofala, J., Heyes, C., Höglund-Isaksson, L., Klimont, Z., Nguyen, B., Posch, M., Rafaj, P., Sandler, R., Schöpp, W., Wagner, F., and Winiwarter, W.: Cost-effective control of air quality and greenhouse gases in Europe: Modeling and policy applications, Environ. Modell. Softw., 26, 1489–1501, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2011.07.012, 2011. 
Cheewaphongphan, P., Chatani, S., and Saigusa, N.: Exploring Gaps between Bottom-Up and Top-Down Emission Estimates Based on Uncertainties in Multiple Emission Inventories: A Case Study on CH4 Emissions in China, Sustainability, 11, 2054, https://doi.org/10.3390/su11072054, 2019. 
Clappier, A., Thunis, P., Beekmann, M., Putaud, J. P., and De Meij, A.: Impact of SOx, NOx and NH3 emission reductions on PM2.5 concentrations across Europe: Hints for future measure development, Environ. Int., 156, 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106699, 2021. 
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Crippa, M., Guizzardi, D., Muntean, M., Schaaf, E., Dentener, F., van Aardenne, J. A., Monni, S., Doering, U., Olivier, J. G. J., Pagliari, V., and Janssens-Maenhout, G.: Gridded emissions of air pollutants for the period 1970–2012 within EDGAR v4.3.2, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 1987–2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1987-2018, 2018. 
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In our study the robustness of the model responses to emission reductions in the EU is assessed when the emission data are changed. Our findings are particularly important to better understand the uncertainties associated to the emission inventories and how these uncertainties impact the level of accuracy of the resulting air quality modelling, which is a key for designing air quality plans. Also crucial is the choice of indicator to avoid misleading interpretations of the results.
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