Articles | Volume 17, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7513-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7513-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Development and technical paper
| 
29 Oct 2024
Development and technical paper |
| 29 Oct 2024
| 29 Oct 2024
Challenges of high-fidelity air quality modeling in urban environments – PALM sensitivity study during stable conditions
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Petra Bauerová
Czech Hydrometeorological Institue, Na Šabatce 2050/17, 143 00 Prague 12, Czech Republic
Michal Belda
Department of Atmospheric Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University Prague, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Martin Bureš
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
ATEM – Studio of ecological models, Roztylská 1860/1, 148 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic
Kryštof Eben
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Vladimír Fuka
Department of Atmospheric Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University Prague, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Jan Geletič
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Radek Jareš
ATEM – Studio of ecological models, Roztylská 1860/1, 148 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic
Jan Karel
ATEM – Studio of ecological models, Roztylská 1860/1, 148 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic
Josef Keder
Czech Hydrometeorological Institue, Na Šabatce 2050/17, 143 00 Prague 12, Czech Republic
Pavel Krč
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
William Patiño
Czech Hydrometeorological Institue, Na Šabatce 2050/17, 143 00 Prague 12, Czech Republic
Jelena Radović
Department of Atmospheric Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University Prague, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
ATEM – Studio of ecological models, Roztylská 1860/1, 148 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic
Hynek Řezníček
Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 271/2, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Matthias Sühring
Institute for Meteorology and Climatology, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419 Hanover, Germany
Pecanode GmbH, Peterstraße 30, 38640 Goslar, Germany
Adriana Šindelářová
Czech Hydrometeorological Institue, Na Šabatce 2050/17, 143 00 Prague 12, Czech Republic
Ondřej Vlček
Czech Hydrometeorological Institue, Na Šabatce 2050/17, 143 00 Prague 12, Czech Republic
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The key points are the following. (i) Integrative observing system design can multiply the information gain of surface–atmosphere field measurements. (ii) Catalyzing numerical simulations and first-principles machine learning open up observing system simulation experiments to novel applications. (iii) Use cases include natural climate solutions, emission inventory validation, urban air quality, and industry leak detection.
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Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 5435–5465, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5435-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5435-2021, 2021
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In this paper, we provide a technical description of a newly developed interface for coupling the PALM model system 6.0 to the weather prediction model COSMO. The interface allows users of PALM to simulate the detailed atmospheric flow for relatively small regions of tens of kilometres under specific weather conditions, for instance, periods around observation campaigns or extreme weather situations. We demonstrate the interface using a benchmark simulation.
Katrin Frieda Gehrke, Matthias Sühring, and Björn Maronga
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 5307–5329, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5307-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5307-2021, 2021
Jaroslav Resler, Kryštof Eben, Jan Geletič, Pavel Krč, Martin Rosecký, Matthias Sühring, Michal Belda, Vladimír Fuka, Tomáš Halenka, Peter Huszár, Jan Karlický, Nina Benešová, Jana Ďoubalová, Kateřina Honzáková, Josef Keder, Šárka Nápravníková, and Ondřej Vlček
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 4797–4842, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-4797-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-4797-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We describe validation of the PALM model v6.0 against measurements collected during two observational campaigns in Dejvice, Prague. The study focuses on the evaluation of the newly developed or improved radiative and energy balance modules in PALM related to urban modelling. In addition to the energy-related quantities, it also evaluates air flow and air quality under street canyon conditions.
Michal Belda, Jaroslav Resler, Jan Geletič, Pavel Krč, Björn Maronga, Matthias Sühring, Mona Kurppa, Farah Kanani-Sühring, Vladimír Fuka, Kryštof Eben, Nina Benešová, and Mikko Auvinen
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 4443–4464, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-4443-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-4443-2021, 2021
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The analysis summarizes how sensitive the modelling of urban environment is to changes in physical parameters describing the city (e.g. reflectivity of surfaces) and to several heat island mitigation scenarios in a city quarter in Prague, Czech Republic. We used the large-eddy simulation modelling system PALM 6.0. Surface parameters connected to radiation show the highest sensitivity in this configuration. For heat island mitigation, urban vegetation is shown to be the most effective measure.
Jens Pfafferott, Sascha Rißmann, Matthias Sühring, Farah Kanani-Sühring, and Björn Maronga
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The building model is integrated via an urban surface model into the urban climate model.
There is a strong interaction between the built environment and the urban climate.
According to the building energy concept, the energy demand results in a waste heat; this is directly transferred to the urban environment.
The impact of buildings on the urban climate is defined by different physical building parameters with different technical facilities for ventilation, heating and cooling.
Antti Hellsten, Klaus Ketelsen, Matthias Sühring, Mikko Auvinen, Björn Maronga, Christoph Knigge, Fotios Barmpas, Georgios Tsegas, Nicolas Moussiopoulos, and Siegfried Raasch
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 3185–3214, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3185-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3185-2021, 2021
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Large-eddy simulation (LES) of the urban atmospheric boundary layer involves a large separation of turbulent scales, leading to prohibitive computational costs. An online LES–LES nesting scheme is implemented into the PALM model system 6.0 to overcome this problem. Test results show that the accuracy within the high-resolution nest domains approach the non-nested high-resolution reference results. The nesting can reduce the CPU by time up to 80 % compared to the fine-resolution reference runs.
Pavel Krč, Jaroslav Resler, Matthias Sühring, Sebastian Schubert, Mohamed H. Salim, and Vladimír Fuka
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 3095–3120, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3095-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-3095-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The adverse effects of an urban environment, e.g. heat stress and air pollution, pose a risk to health and well-being. Precise modelling of the urban climate is crucial to mitigate these effects. Conventional atmospheric models are inadequate for modelling the complex structures of the urban environment; in particular, they lack a 3-D model of radiation and its interaction with surfaces and the plant canopy. The new RTM simulates these processes within the PALM-4U urban climate model.
Basit Khan, Sabine Banzhaf, Edward C. Chan, Renate Forkel, Farah Kanani-Sühring, Klaus Ketelsen, Mona Kurppa, Björn Maronga, Matthias Mauder, Siegfried Raasch, Emmanuele Russo, Martijn Schaap, and Matthias Sühring
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 1171–1193, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-1171-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-1171-2021, 2021
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An atmospheric chemistry model has been implemented in the microscale PALM model system 6.0. This article provides a detailed description of the model, its structure, input requirements, various features and limitations. Several pre-compiled ready-to-use chemical mechanisms are included in the chemistry model code; however, users can also easily implement other mechanisms. A case study is presented to demonstrate the application of the new chemistry model in the urban environment.
Yilin Chen, Huizhong Shen, Jennifer Kaiser, Yongtao Hu, Shannon L. Capps, Shunliu Zhao, Amir Hakami, Jhih-Shyang Shih, Gertrude K. Pavur, Matthew D. Turner, Daven K. Henze, Jaroslav Resler, Athanasios Nenes, Sergey L. Napelenok, Jesse O. Bash, Kathleen M. Fahey, Gregory R. Carmichael, Tianfeng Chai, Lieven Clarisse, Pierre-François Coheur, Martin Van Damme, and Armistead G. Russell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 2067–2082, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2067-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2067-2021, 2021
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Ammonia (NH3) emissions can exert adverse impacts on air quality and ecosystem well-being. NH3 emission inventories are viewed as highly uncertain. Here we optimize the NH3 emission estimates in the US using an air quality model and NH3 measurements from the IASI satellite instruments. The optimized NH3 emissions are much higher than the National Emissions Inventory estimates in April. The optimized NH3 emissions improved model performance when evaluated against independent observation.
Jan Karlický, Peter Huszár, Tereza Nováková, Michal Belda, Filip Švábik, Jana Ďoubalová, and Tomáš Halenka
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 15061–15077, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15061-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15061-2020, 2020
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Cities are characterized by their impact on various meteorological variables. Our study aims to generalize these modifications into a single phenomenon – the urban meteorology island (UMI). A wide ensemble of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and Regional Climate Model (RegCM) simulations investigated urban-induced modifications as individual UMI components. Significant changes are found in most of the discussed meteorological variables with a strong impact of specific model simulations.
Wieke Heldens, Cornelia Burmeister, Farah Kanani-Sühring, Björn Maronga, Dirk Pavlik, Matthias Sühring, Julian Zeidler, and Thomas Esch
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 5833–5873, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-5833-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-5833-2020, 2020
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For realistic microclimate simulations in urban areas with PALM 6.0, detailed description of surface types, buildings and vegetation is required. This paper shows how such input data sets can be derived with the example of three German cities. Various data sources are used, including remote sensing, municipal data collections and open data such as OpenStreetMap. The collection and preparation of input data sets is tedious. Future research aims therefore at semi-automated tools to support users.
Peter Huszar, Jan Karlický, Jana Ďoubalová, Tereza Nováková, Kateřina Šindelářová, Filip Švábik, Michal Belda, Tomáš Halenka, and Michal Žák
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 11655–11681, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11655-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11655-2020, 2020
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The paper shows how extreme meteorological conditions change due to the urban land-cover forcing and how this translates to the impact on the extreme air pollution over central European cities. It focuses on ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm and shows that, while for the extreme daily maximum 8 h ozone, changes are same as for the mean ones, much larger modifications are calculated for extreme NO2 and PM2.5 compared to their mean changes.
Cited articles
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Short summary
Detailed modeling of urban air quality in stable conditions is a challenge. We show the unprecedented sensitivity of a large eddy simulation (LES) model to meteorological boundary conditions and model parameters in an urban environment under stable conditions. We demonstrate the crucial role of boundary conditions for the comparability of results with observations. The study reveals a strong sensitivity of the results to model parameters and model numerical instabilities during such conditions.
Detailed modeling of urban air quality in stable conditions is a challenge. We show the...
