Investigating the Influence of Model Coupling by Comparing CAMx and WRF/Chem Over Italy

Abstract

In order to assess the effects of model coupling on air quality simulations, the on-line meteorology and chemistry model WRF/Chem has been compared to the well known chemistry and transport model CAMx. Models have been applied over the Italian domain with a grid resolution of 15 km for both a winter and summer episode of 2005. The comparison of winter PM10 and summer O3 shows an overall agreement between the two models results, although some systematic differences have been highlighted. PM10 is usually higher in WRF/Chem than CAMx, especially in the Po Valley area for both winter and summer times. Models have been also evaluated against some measurement stations. Winter PM10 values are underestimated by the two models, while summer O3 data are generally overestimated. © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014.