Comparison of WRF-CHEM Chemical Transport Model Calculations with Aircraft Measurements in Norilsk

Abstract

The results of WRF-CHEM model simulation of dispersal of anthropogenic emissions from the Norilsk industrial zone are verified against data of aircraft sensing performed in August 2004. It is shown that the WRF-CHEM v3.5.1 model configuration selected adequately reproduces the meteorological parameters obtained during the 2004 measurement campaign. The model-derived distributions of the concentrations of sulfur anhydride and ozone and mass concentration of aerosol qualitatively reproduce those retrieved from data of aircraft sensing. Quantitative estimates showed that the standard errors for sulfur dioxide, PM_2.5 mass concentration, and ozone, calculated for three flights, had been 23 ppb, 2.6 μg/m³, and 9.8 ppb, respectively. These discrepancies may be due to incorrect specification of the initial and boundary conditions, inaccurate specification of anthropogenic emissions, and limitations in the aerosol and chemical descriptions.