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Air Quality Forecasting
Research Programs
In 2003 NOAA and EPA signed a Memorandum of Agreement to collaborate on the design and implementation of a capability to produce daily air quality modeling forecast information for the U.S. NOAA’s Eta meteorological model and EPA’s Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model have been linked together to form the core of this forecast system. Testing of the system has been conducted during the 2003 and 2004 ozone seasons for the northeast U.S. , and the system became fully operational in September 2004. Over the next five years the model domain will be expanded to the continental U.S. , and PM2.5 will be added to the model forecast capability.
Air Quality Forecasting
Air Quality Forecasting Database
National Weather Service Air Quality Forecasting
Real time NWS AQF Guidance Product
The objectives of this research include: (1) to continuously evaluate and analyze the forecast results to provide diagnostic information on model performance and inadequacies to guide further evolution and refinements to the CMAQ model, and (2) extending the utility of the daily air quality forecast model data being produced by NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) as part of a NOAA/EPA collaboration in air quality forecasting, to EPA mission-oriented activities. These objectives include developing and maintaining a long-term database of air quality modeling results (ozone and PM 2.5), performing periodic analysis and assessments using the data, and making the air quality database available and accessible to States, Regions, RPO’s and others to use as input data for regional/local scale air quality modeling for policy/regulatory purposes.
The figure below indicates the roles and responsibilities of NOAA, EPA, and the States in developing and implementing this national effort.
