Metadata for 'Concentrations of gaseous pollutants and particulate compounds over Northwestern Europe and nitrogen deposition into the North and Baltic Sea in 2008'

Accuracy report

Model: CMAQ v5.0.1, cb05tucl gas phase chemistry and aero5 aerosol chemistry (https://www.airqualitymodeling.org/index.php/CMAQ). Primary model domain: rectangular grid of 24x24 km2 resolution (Lambert Conformal Conic projection). Enclosed by coarse model domain: 72x72 km2, one-way nested, outer boundary conditions from global TM5 model runs. Initialization: standard initial condition profile and spin up for 10 days. Land based emissions: SMOKE for Europe (Bieser et al., 2011, doi: 10.5194/gmd-4-47-2011). Ship emissions: AIS data, Aulinger et al. (2016, doi:10.5194/acp-16-739-2016). Salt emissions: GO03 (base) and OV14 (ov14) parameterizations (details: Neumannd et al., 2016b, doi:10.5194/acp-16-9905-2016). Meteorological data: COSMO-CLM v4.8, 0.22°x0.22° rotated grid, converted by modified CMAQ Meteorology-Chemistry Interface Processor (MCIP).

Both considered sea salt emission parameterizations are considered to represent sea salt emissions sufficiently well. Model results were validated with EMEP data (Neumann et al., 2016b, doi:10.5194/acp-16-9905-2016). The modeled nitrogen deposition into the ocean is by up to a factor of 2 lower than in other recent publications (Neumann el a., 2016a, doi:10.5194/acp-16-2921-2016). However, the other studies dealt with other years.

Atmospheric pollutants (NOx, SO2, O3, NH3, NO3-, SO4--) of CMAQ Model runs based on a very similar model setup (same year, same emissions except for sea salt) were validated by Aulinger et al. (2016, doi:10.5194/acp-16-739-2016) and Backes et al. (2016, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.01.041). The model setups slightly differed with respect to the input data for the sea salt emissions. Backes et al. (2016) found weaknesses in the current emission setup for agricultural NH3 emissions.

SQA - Scientific Quality Assurance 'approved by contact' 2017-05-05; TQA - Technical Quality Assurance 'approved by WDCC' 03/11/2017

Completeness report

Time covered: The model data covers the months January to March, June to September and December of the year 2008. The month April to Mai and October to November are missing.
• base: Jan - Mar 2008; Jun - Sept 2008; Dec 2008
• ov14: Jan - Mar 2008; Jul - Sept 2008
Spatial extend: Although CMAQ is a 3D model, only the bottom layer data are provided. The horizontal domain covers central Europe including the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

Meteorological parameters necessary to convert the units of some model variables are included in this data set.

Horizontal accuracy

Model evaluation with EMEP measurement data indicate that the most air quality background stations (if not located at unfavorable locations such as hills) are sufficiently well represented in the chosen model setup.

Model evaluations with grid sizes of 16x16 km2 and 4x4 km2 resolution indicate that refining the model resolution does not yield considerable improvements at most stations. However, coastal stations might benefit from a finer resolved model grid due to a more detailed representation of the coast line.

Vertical accuracy

only ground level data were submitted

Specification

Technical Quality Assurance: The number of data sets is checked and not equal 0[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The size of every data set is not equal 0[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The data sets and corresponding metadata are all accessible via internet[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The data size is checked and correct[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The format is verified and correct[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The time description (metadata) and data are consistent[ done ]
Technical Quality Assurance: The variable description and data are consistent[ done ]

Attached Datasets

Additional Info