Investigation of winter aerosol dispersion using the MM5/WRF-CAMx4 numerical modelling system: application to the aerosol abatement strategy for the City of Christchurch

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Environmental Sciences
Degree name
Doctor of Philosophy
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Geography
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2008
Authors
Titov, Mikhail
Abstract

Air circulation and air pollution dispersion models are used by a range of stakeholders involved in managing air quality in New Zealand following the recent establishment and implementation of the National Environmental (Air Quality) Standards by the Ministry for the Environment. MM5-CAMx4 and WRF-CAMx4 numerical modelling systems were utilized to air circulation over the complex terrain of the Christchurch area for investigation applied to winter aerosol pollution, following the recent establishment and implementation of the National Environmental Standards. A new method using several different chemical scenarios is developed to calculate optimal chemical composition of the input gridded aerosol emissions. This method improves the accuracy of predicted PM concentrations. The MM5-CAMx4.2 numerical system is evaluated to predict aerosol concentrations over a 48-72 hour time period for Christchurch for winter 2005. The aerosol concentrations are obtained for four different chemical compositions of the input aerosol emissions. The fine-total PM regression error between observed and modelled aerosol is used to find the minimum difference between modelled and ambient aerosol. Combination of the chemical scenarios with the minimum error between modelled and ambient data is employed to create a new complex chemical scenario. A reduction of the systematic error in the scenario method is achieved by applying the MM5/WRF - CAMx4.2 numerical system and observations for winter 2006, aerosol data from 2 observation sites. Assessment of the efficiency of PM abatement strategies for the period 2005- 2013 is undertaken using winter 2005 meteorology and application of a linear reduction in emissions according to Environment Canterbury proposed plan for aerosol reduction. A new numerical approach to selection of PM monitoring sites optimal localisation is also developed and could be applied to any air pollutant to find the optimal positions for installing new observation sites.

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Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
Copyright Mikhail Titov