A comprehensive evaluation of seasonal simulations of ozone in the northeastern US during summers of 2001–2005

摘要: Abstract. Regional air quality simulations were conducted for summers 2001–2005 in the eastern US and subjected to extensive evaluation using various ground airborne measurements. A brief climate focused on transport by comparing modeled dominant map types with ones from reanalysis. Reasonable agreement was found their frequency of occurrence distinctness circulation patterns. The two most frequent reanalysis Bermuda High (22%) passage a Canadian cold frontal over northeastern (20%). model captured at 25% 18% respectively. simulated five average distributions 1-h ozone (O3) daily maxima Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system reproduced salient features observations. This suggests that ability regional depict processes accurately is critical reasonable surface O3. Comparison mean bias, root square error, index CMAQ summer 8-h O3 observations showed –0.6±14 nmol/mol, 14 71% performed best moderately polluted conditions less satisfactorily highly ones. highlights common problem overestimating/underestimating lower/higher levels. Diagnostic analysis suggested significant overestimation inland nighttime low mixing ratios may be attributed underestimates nitric oxide (NO) emissions night. absence second peak Appledore Island marine site possibly resulted coarse grid resolution misrepresentation land type. shipboard measurements has an inherent underpredicting levels continental outflow. Modeled vertical profiles exhibited lack structure indicating key missing CMAQ, such as lightning produced NO stratospheric intrusions, are important accurate upper tropospheric representations.