Adding spatial flexibility to source-receptor relationships for air quality modeling. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pisoni, E.; Clappier, A.; Degraeuwe, B.; Thunis, P.
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 90(2017)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Integrated assessment modeling -- Air quality modeling -- Surrogate models -- Source-receptor relationships; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.01.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: To cope with computing power limitations, air quality models that are used in integrated assessment applications are generally approximated by simpler expressions referred to as "source-receptor relationships (SRR)". In addition to speed, it is desirable for the SRR also to be spatially flexible (application over a wide range of situations) and to require a "light setup" (based on a limited number of full Air Quality Models - AQM simulations). But "speed", "flexibility" and "light setup" do not naturally come together and a good compromise must be ensured that preserves "accuracy", i.e. a good comparability between SRR results and AQM. In this work we further develop a SRR methodology to better capture spatial flexibility. The updated methodology is based on a cell-to-cell relationship, in which a bell-shape function links emissions to concentrations. Maintaining a cell-to-cell relationship is shown to be the key element needed to ensure spatial flexibility, while at the same time the proposed approach to link emissions and concentrations guarantees a "light set-up" phase. Validation has been repeated on different areas and domain sizes (countries, regions, province throughout Europe) for precursors reduced independently or contemporarily. All runs showed a bias around 10% between the full AQM and the SRR. This methodology allows assessing the impact on air quality of emission scenarios applied over any given area in Europe (regions, set of regions, countries), provided that a limited number of AQM simulations are performed for training. Highlights: Integrated Assessment Modeling applies source receptor relationships (SRR). SRR need to be fast, flexible, accurate and easy to be set-up. Existing SRR lack flexibility in terms of spatial emission reductions. In this work a novel approach to flexible SRR is formalized and validated. These SRR can simulate emission scenarios applied over any domain in Europe.