NOAA WP-3D takes off from Rocky Mountain Metro Airport

Photo: J. Cozic, NOAA / CIRESResearch Highlight Modeling: Model performance is evaluated with comparison to measurements made during integrated field studies.

Regional Chemical Modeling

Dr. Michael K. Trainer, Program Lead
Jane August, Secretary (303) 497-4165

NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division
325 Broadway R/CSD4
Boulder, CO 80305 USA

Focus

The Regional Chemical Modeling group undertakes research that improves our ability to forecast regional air quality in the lower troposphere, and increases our understanding of the free tropospheric ozone budget.

Model Studies

Our primary research tool is the WRF-Chem chemical transport model with which we develop and evaluate state-of-the-art capabilities to describe the emission, transport and chemical evolution of pollutants in the atmosphere. We evaluate the model's performance with comparison to measurements of ozone and particulate matter made during integrated field studies. Related topics include examination of the impact of pollutants on low level cloud formation, and the influence of coastal dynamics on pollution export from North America. Beyond the continental and marine boundary layer we combine hemispheric scale tracer transport studies, satellite observations, and both coordinated and opportunistic measurements to improve our understanding of the North American free tropospheric ozone budget.

Recent Publications

Recent Publications

Measuring emissions from
power plants – from space.

Meteorological Products

Meteorological Products

Forecasting regional air quality
in the lower troposphere.

Tracer Forecasts

Tracer Forecasts

Using FLEXPART in combination with the GFS and WRF models.

Regional Model Evaluation

Model Evaluation

Model results are compared to
in-situ and remote sensing data.