WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison
Oil and gas production in the Bakken region increased dramatically during the past decade. A WRF-Chem modeling study of the Northern Great Plains was conducted for a July 2010 baseline scenario prior to the largest of these production increases. Simulations using the RACM-MADE/SORGAM, CBMZ-MOSAIC, a...
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doaj-1652d375d54c418eb19619e6e705114e2021-09-25T23:43:10ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-08-01121121112110.3390/atmos12091121WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism IntercomparisonCarlos J. Bucaram0Frank M. Bowman1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Dr., Grand Forks, ND 58202-7101, USADepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Dr., Grand Forks, ND 58202-7101, USAOil and gas production in the Bakken region increased dramatically during the past decade. A WRF-Chem modeling study of the Northern Great Plains was conducted for a July 2010 baseline scenario prior to the largest of these production increases. Simulations using the RACM-MADE/SORGAM, CBMZ-MOSAIC, and MOZART-MOSAIC chemistry-aerosol mechanisms were compared to each other and against ground level observations. All three gas-aerosol modules produced similar prediction results for O<sub>3</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub>, with moderate correlation to hourly measurements and monthly average values overpredicted by 20% for O<sub>3</sub> and underpredicted by 5% for NO<sub>2</sub>. Monthly average PM2.5 concentrations were relatively accurate, but correlation to hourly measurements was very low and PM2.5 subspecies exhibited high variability with a mix of over and underpredictions depending on the mechanism. Pollutant concentrations were relatively low across the mostly rural study domain, especially in the Bakken region. Results from this work can be used as a basis of comparison for studies of more recent time periods that include increased oil and gas-related emissions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/9/1121air qualityWRF-ChemBakkenRACM-MADE/SORGAMCBMZ-MOSAICMOZART-MOSAIC |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Carlos J. Bucaram Frank M. Bowman |
spellingShingle |
Carlos J. Bucaram Frank M. Bowman WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison Atmosphere air quality WRF-Chem Bakken RACM-MADE/SORGAM CBMZ-MOSAIC MOZART-MOSAIC |
author_facet |
Carlos J. Bucaram Frank M. Bowman |
author_sort |
Carlos J. Bucaram |
title |
WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison |
title_short |
WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison |
title_full |
WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison |
title_fullStr |
WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison |
title_full_unstemmed |
WRF-Chem Modeling of Summertime Air Pollution in the Northern Great Plains: Chemistry and Aerosol Mechanism Intercomparison |
title_sort |
wrf-chem modeling of summertime air pollution in the northern great plains: chemistry and aerosol mechanism intercomparison |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Atmosphere |
issn |
2073-4433 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Oil and gas production in the Bakken region increased dramatically during the past decade. A WRF-Chem modeling study of the Northern Great Plains was conducted for a July 2010 baseline scenario prior to the largest of these production increases. Simulations using the RACM-MADE/SORGAM, CBMZ-MOSAIC, and MOZART-MOSAIC chemistry-aerosol mechanisms were compared to each other and against ground level observations. All three gas-aerosol modules produced similar prediction results for O<sub>3</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub>, with moderate correlation to hourly measurements and monthly average values overpredicted by 20% for O<sub>3</sub> and underpredicted by 5% for NO<sub>2</sub>. Monthly average PM2.5 concentrations were relatively accurate, but correlation to hourly measurements was very low and PM2.5 subspecies exhibited high variability with a mix of over and underpredictions depending on the mechanism. Pollutant concentrations were relatively low across the mostly rural study domain, especially in the Bakken region. Results from this work can be used as a basis of comparison for studies of more recent time periods that include increased oil and gas-related emissions. |
topic |
air quality WRF-Chem Bakken RACM-MADE/SORGAM CBMZ-MOSAIC MOZART-MOSAIC |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/9/1121 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT carlosjbucaram wrfchemmodelingofsummertimeairpollutioninthenortherngreatplainschemistryandaerosolmechanismintercomparison AT frankmbowman wrfchemmodelingofsummertimeairpollutioninthenortherngreatplainschemistryandaerosolmechanismintercomparison |
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