Using a photochemical air quality model to evaluate emissions and simulate concentrations

Abstract

The air-quality modelling system was conducted to evaluate emissions inventory and simulate air concentration over Thailand. The coupling model of the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (RAMS) and the models-3 Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) was applied to simulate the concentration distributions of gaseous pollutants (i.e., NOx, SO2 and CO) over the Central and Eastern regions of Thailand. CMAQ was run for a summertime episode in a sub-grid scale. Simulated air concentrations were then compared with monitoring data. The evaluating results between modeling simulation and monitoring observation show a good agreement within a factor of 2.0 and relevant trend line, representing the acceptable level of emissions and concentration. This coupling model can be applied to support emission control strategies and clean air acts. © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.