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Applying the delta tool to support the Air Quality Directive: evaluation of the TCAM chemical transport model

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Abstract

This paper presents an application of the DELTA evaluation tool V3.2 to support the EU Air Quality Directive (AQD 2008). This software, designed in the frame of the FAIRMODE project (Forum for Air Quality Modelling in Europe, http://fairmode.ew.eea.europa.eu/), is currently used as support to working groups of modelers across Europe in the diagnostics and assessment of air quality model performances under the AQD (2008). The skills of the DELTA tool V3.2 are tested by looking at the results of a 1-year (2005) simulation performed using the transport chemical aerosol model (Carnevale et al. 2008) at 6 × 6-km2 resolution over the Po Valley. The modeled daily PM10 concentrations at surface level are compared to observations provided by approximately 50 stations distributed across the domain. The main statistical parameters (i.e., bias, root mean square error, correlation coefficient, standard deviation) as well as different types of diagrams (scatter plots, time series plots, Taylor and target plots) have been produced. A representation of the observation uncertainty in the target plot, used to derive model performance criteria for the main statistical indicators, is also presented and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, Brescia, 25123, Italy

    C. Carnevale, G. Finzi, A. Pederzoli, E. Turrini & M. Volta

  2. Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Via E. Fermi 2749, Ispra (VA), 21027, Italy

    E. Pisoni & P. Thunis

Authors
  1. C. Carnevale
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  2. G. Finzi
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  3. A. Pederzoli
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  4. E. Pisoni
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  5. P. Thunis
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  6. E. Turrini
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  7. M. Volta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Pederzoli.

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Carnevale, C., Finzi, G., Pederzoli, A. et al. Applying the delta tool to support the Air Quality Directive: evaluation of the TCAM chemical transport model. Air Qual Atmos Health 7, 335–346 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0240-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0240-4

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