ALBERT

Description: The overall impact of urban environments on the atmosphere is the result of many different nonlinear processes, and their reproduction requires complex modeling approaches. The parameterization of these processes in the models can have large impacts on the model outputs. In this study, the evaluation of a WRF/Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) forecast modeling system set up for Prague, the Czech Republic, within the project URBI PRAGENSI is presented. To assess the impacts of urban parameterization in WRF, in this case with the BEP+BEM (Building Environment Parameterization linked to Building Energy Model) urban canopy scheme, on Particulate Matter (PM) simulations, a simulation was performed for a winter pollution episode and compared to a non-urbanized run with BULK treatment. The urbanized scheme led to an average increase in temperature at 2 m by 2 ∘ C, a decrease in wind speed by 0.5 m s − 1 , a decrease in relative humidity by 5%, and an increase in planetary boundary layer height by 100 m. Based on the evaluation against observations, the overall model error was reduced. These impacts were propagated to the modeled PM concentrations, reducing them on average by 15–30 μ g m − 3 and 10–15 μ g m − 3 for PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively. In general, the urban parameterization led to a larger underestimation of the PM values, but yielded a better representation of the diurnal variations.

Description: This work presents the evaluation of the WRF-Chem model applied for a European domain over the year 2008 and employing two different chemical modules. Airbase European station data and E-OBS database are used for validation of the simulated meteorological conditions as well as concentrations of NO2, SO2 and ozone. In both experiments, underestimation of the amplitude of temperature daily cycle (by about 1 °C) and precipitation overestimation (by about 25 %) were found, with possible impact on chemistry processes due to increased removal via wet deposition. The modelled ozone concentrations match the observations quite well, while the simulated concentrations of other gases show highly negative bias.

Description: Cities are characterized by different physical properties of surface compared to their rural counterparts, resulting in a specific regime of the meteorological phenomenon. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of typical urban surfaces on the central European urban climate in several model simulations, performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and Regional Climate Model (RegCM). The specific processes occurring in the typical urban environment are described in the models by various types of urban parameterizations, greatly differing in complexity. Our results show that all models and urban parameterizations are able to reproduce the most typical urban effect, the summer evening and nocturnal urban heat island, with the average magnitude of 2–3 °C. The impact of cities on the wind is clearly dependent on the urban parameterization employed, with more simple ones unable to fully capture the wind speed reduction induced by the city. In the summer, a significant difference in the boundary-layer height (about 25 %) between models is detected. The urban-induced changes of temperature and wind speed are propagated into higher altitudes up to 2 km, with a decreasing tendency of their magnitudes. With the exception of the daytime in the summer, the urban environment improves the weather conditions a little with regard to the pollutant dispersion, which could lead to the partly decreased concentration of the primary pollutants.

Description: We revise selected findings regarding the utilization of Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPS RO) density profiles for the analysis of internal gravity waves (IGW), introduced by Sacha et al. (2014). Using various GPS RO datasets, we show that the differences in the IGW spectra between the dry-temperature and dry-density profiles that were described in the previous study as a general issue are in fact present in one specific data version only. The differences between perturbations in the temperature and density GPS RO profiles do not have any physical origin, and there is not the information loss of IGW activity that was suggested in Sacha et al. (2014). We investigate the previously discussed question of the temperature perturbations character when utilizing GPS RO dry-temperature profiles, derived by integration of the hydrostatic balance. Using radiosonde profiles as a proxy for GPS RO, we provide strong evidence that the differences in IGW perturbations between the real and retrieved temperature profiles (which are based on the assumption of hydrostatic balance) include a significant nonhydrostatic component that is present sporadically and might be either positive or negative. The detected differences in related spectra of IGW temperature perturbations are found to be mostly about ±10 %. The paper also presents a detailed study on the utilization of GPS RO density profiles for the characterization of the wave field stability. We have analyzed selected stability parameters derived from the density profiles together with a study of the vertical rotation of the wind direction. Regarding the Northern Hemisphere the results point to the western border of the Aleutian high, where potential IGW breaking is detected. These findings are also supported by an analysis of temperature and wind velocity profiles. Our results confirm advantages of the utilization of the density profiles for IGW analysis.

Description: The regional climate model RegCM4 extended with the land surface model CLM4.5 was coupled to the chemistry transport model CAMx to analyze the impact of urban meteorological forcing on surface fine aerosol (PM2.5) concentrations for summer conditions over the 2001–2005 period, focusing on the area of Europe. Starting with the analysis of the meteorological modifications caused by urban canopy forcing, we found a significant increase in urban surface temperatures (up to 2–3 K), a decrease of specific humidity (by up to 0.4–0.6 gkg−1), a reduction of wind speed (up to −1 ms−1) and an enhancement of vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient (up to 60–70 m2s−1). These modifications translated into significant changes in surface aerosol concentrations that were calculated by a “cascading” experimental approach. First, none of the urban meteorological effects were considered. Then, the temperature effect was added, then the humidity and the wind, and finally, the enhanced turbulence was considered in the chemical runs. This facilitated the understanding of the underlying processes acting to modify urban aerosol concentrations. Moreover, we looked at the impact of the individual aerosol components as well. The urbanization-induced temperature changes resulted in a decrease of PM2.5 by −1.5 to −2 µg m−3, while decreased urban winds resulted in increases by 1–2 µg m−3. The enhanced turbulence over urban areas resulted in decreases of PM2.5 by −2 µg m−3. The combined effect of all individual impact depends on the competition between the partial impacts and can reach up to −3 µg m−3 for some cities, especially when the temperature impact was stronger in magnitude than the wind impact. The effect of changed humidity was found to be minor. The main contributor to the temperature impact is the modification of secondary inorganic aerosols, mainly nitrates, while the wind and turbulence impact is most pronounced in the case of primary aerosol (primary black and organic carbon and other fine particle matter). The overall as well as individual impacts on secondary organic aerosol are very small, with the increased turbulence acting as the main driver. The analysis of the vertical extent of the aerosol changes showed that the perturbations caused by urban canopy forcing, besides being large near the surface, have a secondary maximum for turbulence and wind impact over higher model levels, which is attributed to the vertical extent of the changes in turbulence over urban areas. The validation of model data with measurements showed good agreement, and we could detect a clear model improvement in some areas when including the urban canopy meteorological effects in our chemistry simulations.

Description: This paper deals with the urban land-surface impact (i.e., the urban canopy meteorological forcing; UCMF) on extreme air pollution for selected central European cities for present-day climate conditions (2015–2016) using three regional climate-chemistry models: the regional climate models RegCM and WRF-Chem (its meteorological part), the chemistry transport model CAMx coupled to either RegCM and WRF and the “chemical” component of WRF-Chem. Most of the studies dealing with the urban canopy meteorological forcing on air pollution focused on change in average conditions or only on a selected winter and/or summer air pollution episode. Here we extend these studies by focusing on long-term extreme air pollution levels by looking at not only the change in average values, but also their high (and low) percentile values, and we combine the analysis with investigating selected high-pollution episodes too. As extreme air pollution is often linked to extreme values of meteorological variables (e.g., low planetary boundary layer height, low winds, high temperatures), the urbanization-induced extreme meteorological modifications will be analyzed too. The validation of model results show reasonable model performance for regional-scale temperature and precipitation. Ozone is overestimated by about 10–20 µg m−3 (50 %–100 %); on the other hand, extreme summertime ozone values are underestimated by all models. Modeled nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations are well correlated with observations, but results are marked by a systematic underestimation up to 20 µg m−3 (−50 %). PM2.5 (particles with diameter ≤2.5 µm) are systematically underestimated in most of the models by around 5 µg m−3 (50 %–70 %). Our results show that the impact on extreme values of meteorological variables can be substantially different from that of the impact on average ones: low (5th percentile) temperature in winter responds to UCMF much more than average values, while in summer, 95th percentiles increase more than averages. The impact on boundary layer height (PBLH), i.e., its increase is stronger for thicker PBLs and wind speed, is reduced much more for strong winds compared to average ones. The modeled changes in ozone (O3), NO2 and PM2.5 show the expected pattern, i.e., increase in average 8 h O3 up to 2–3 ppbv, decrease in daily average NO2 by around 2–4 ppbv and decrease in daily average PM2.5 by around −2 µg m−3. Regarding the impact on extreme (95th percentile) values of these pollutants, the impact on ozone at the high end of the distribution is rather similar to the impact on average 8 h values. A different picture is obtained however for extreme values of NO2 and PM2.5. The impact on the 95th percentile values is almost 2 times larger than the impact on the daily averages for both pollutants. The simulated impact on extreme values further well corresponds to the UCMF impact simulated for the selected high-pollution episodes. Our results bring light to the principal question: whether extreme air quality is modified by urban land surface with a different magnitude compared to the impact on average air pollution. We showed that this is indeed true for NO2 and PM2.5, while in the case of ozone, our results did not show substantial differences between the impact on mean and extreme values.

Description: We revise selected findings regarding the utilization of Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPS RO) density profiles for the analysis of internal gravity waves (IGW), introduced by Sacha et al. (2014). Using various GPS RO datasets, we show that the previously detected differences in the IGW spectra between dry temperature and density profiles are found only in the one specific data version that was used for the original study mentioned above. The differences between temperature and density perturbations do not have any physical origin and there is no information loss of IGW activity due to the GPS RO retrieval. We investigate the previously discussed question of the temperature perturbations character when utilizing GPS RO dry temperature profiles, derived by integration of the hydrostatic balance. Using radiosonde profiles as proxy for GPS RO, we provide strong evidence that the differences in IGW perturbations between the real and retrieved temperature profiles (which are based on the assumption of hydrostatic balance) include a significant nonhydrostatic component that is present sporadically and might be either positive or negative. The detected differences in related spectra of IGW temperature perturbations are found to be mostly about ±10 %. The paper also presents a detailed study on the utilization of GPS RO density profiles for the characterization of the wave field stability. We have analyzed selected stability parameters derived from the density profiles together with a study of the vertical rotation of the wind direction. Regarding the Northern Hemisphere the results point to the western border of the Aleutian High where potential IGW breaking is detected. These findings are also supported by an analysis of temperature and wind velocity profiles. Our results confirm advantages of the utilization of the density profiles for IGW analysis.

Description: The regional climate model RegCM4.2 was coupled to the chemistry transport model CAMx, including two-way interactions, to evaluate the regional impact of urban emission from Central European cities on climate for present (2001–2010) and future (2046–2055). Short-lived non-CO2 emissions are considered, and, for the future impact, only the emission changes are accounted for (the climate is kept 'fixed'). The urban impact on climate is calculated with the annihilation approach, when two experiments are performed: one with all emissions included and one without considering urban emissions. The radiative impacts of non-CO2 primary and secondary formed pollutants are considered: namely ozone (O3), sulfates (PSO4), nitrates (PNO3), primary organic and elementary carbon (POA and PEC). The validation of the modeling system is limited to key climate parameters, near surface and precipitation. It shows that the model, in general, under-estimates temperature and overestimates precipitation. We attribute this behavior to too much cloudiness/water vapor present in the model atmosphere as a consequence of over-predicted evaporation from the surface. The impact on climate is characterized by a statistically significant cooling up to −0.02 K and −0.04 K in winter (DJF) and summer (JJA) season, mainly over cities. We found that the main contributor to the cooling is the aerosols direct and indirect effects, while the ozone titration, calculated especially for DJF, plays rather a minor role. In accordance with the vertical extent of the urban emission induced aerosol perturbation, cooling dominates the first few model layers up to about 150 m in DJF and 1000 m in JJA. We found a clear diurnal cycle of the radiative impacts with maximum cooling just after noon (JJA) or later in afternoon (DJF). Furthermore, statistically significant decreases of surface radiation are modeled, in accordance with the temperature decrease. The impact on the boundary later height is small but statistically significant and reaches −1 m and −6 m decreases in DJF and JJA, respectively. We did not find any statistically significant impact on precipitation and wind speed. Considering future emissions, the impacts are, in general, smaller – as a consequence of smaller emissions resulting in smaller urban induced chemical perturbations. In overall, the study suggest that the non-CO2 emissions play rather a minor role in modulating regional climate over central Europe. Much more important is the direct climate impact of urban surfaces trough urban canopy meteorological effects as we showed earlier.

Description: Urban surfaces due to specific geometry and physical properties bring modified transport of momentum, moisture and heat between them and the air above and perturb the radiative, thermal and mechanical balance resulting in changed meteorological condition (e.g. the UHI – urban heat island phenomenon). From an air quality perspective, many studies argue that one of the most important changes is the increased turbulence enhancing vertical mixing of pollutants above cities, although increased temperatures and wind stilling play an important role too. Using the regional climate model RegCM4 coupled to chemistry transport model CAMx over central Europe we study how urban surfaces affect the vertical turbulent transport of selected pollutants through modifications of the vertical eddy diffusion coefficient (Kv). For the period of 2007–2011 and over central Europe numerous experiments are carried out in order to evaluate the impact of six different methods for Kv calculation on the surface concentrations as well as vertical profiles of ozone and PM2.5 over selected cities (Prague and Berlin). Three cascading domains are set up at 27 km, 9 km and 3 km resolutions, which further enables to analyze the sensitivity to model grid resolution. Numerous experiments are performed where urban surfaces are considered or replaced by rural ones in order to isolate the urban canopy meteorological forcing. Apart from the well pronounced and expected impact on temperature (increases up to 2 °C) and wind (decreases up to −2 m s−1) there is strong impact on vertical eddy diffusion in all of the six Kv methods. The Kv enhancement ranges from a few 0.5 up to 30 m2 s−1 at the surface and from 1 to 100 m2 s−1 at higher levels depending on the methods, while the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) based methods produce the largest impact. The range of impact on the vertical eddy diffusion coefficient propagates to a range of ozone (O3) increase of 0.4 to 4 ppbv near the surface in both summer and winter, while at higher levels, decreases occur from a few −0.4 ppbv to as much as −2 ppbv. In case of PM2.5, enhanced vertical eddy diffusion leads to decrease of near surface concentrations ranging from almost zero to −1 μg m−3 in summer and to decreases from −0.5 to −2 μg m−3 in winter. Comparing these results to the total-impact, i.e. to the impact of all considered urban meteorological changes, we can conclude that much of the overall urban meteorological forcing is explained by acting of the enhanced vertical eddy diffusion, which counterweights the opposing effects of other components of this forcing (temperature, humidity and wind impact). The results further show that this conclusion holds regardless of the resolution chosen and in both the warm and cold part of the year. Our study demonstrates the dominant role of turbulent transport of pollutants above urban areas and stresses the need for further investigation how variation of urban land-use influence the pollutant transport from the urban canopy.