2018 Volume 22 Issue 1-2 Pages 21-30
Regional air quality modeling is a powerful tool for considering effective strategies to suppress ambient PM2.5 concentrations. It is particularly suited to evaluating source apportionments─critical information for designing effective strategies─by facilitating consideration of complex photochemical reactions and aerosol formation in the atmosphere. Its performance at reproducing PM2.5 concentrations, however, needs improvement. It incorporates various factors that could alter simulated pollutant concentrations. It is not an easy task for anyone relying on a single model to get a grasp of the uncertainties arising from these factors overall. The aim of this project, called “Japanʼs Study for Reference Air Quality Modeling”（J-STREAM），is to promote research in Japan that can provide an assemblage of references on air quality modeling. The variabilities and uncertainties in pollutant concentrations simulated by currently available models are being evaluated using model inter-comparisons. The project is also seeking suitable model configurations among the models participating in these inter-comparisons. Such information could serve as a reference for model users in Japan. This project has other sub-themes, as well: contributing to improvement of currently available emission inventories based on the results of model inter-comparisons, solving remaining issues related to secondary inorganic aerosols through specific measurements, and newly investigating three dimensional structures of ozone concentrations. Various findings have already been obtained through the model inter-comparison, to which an ample number of models have submitted their results. Detailed model performance and source apportionments will be evaluated in forthcoming phases of this project.
