Multi-Model Analyses of Dominant Factors Influencing Elemental Carbon in Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan

10.4209/aaqr.2013.02.0035

Satoru Chatani；Yu Morino；Hikari Shimadera；Hiroshi Hayami；Yasuaki Mori；Kansuke Sasaki；Mizuo Kajino；Takeshi Yokoi；Tazuko Morikawa；Toshimasa Ohara

Air quality model ； Model intercomparison ； PM2.5 ； EC ； Sensitivity analyses

Aerosol and Air Quality Research

14卷1期（2014 / 02 / 01）

396 - 405

英文

The first phase of the Urban air quality Model InterComparison Study in Japan (UMICS) has been conducted to find ways to improve model performance with regard to elemental carbon (EC). Common meteorology and emission datasets are used with eight different models. All the models underestimate the EC concentrations observed in Tokyo Metropolitan Area in the summer of 2007. Sensitivity analyses are conducted using these models to investigate the causes of this underestimation. The results of the analyses reveal that emissions and vertical diffusion are dominant factors that affect the simulated EC concentrations. A significant improvement in the accuracy of EC concentrations could be realized by applying appropriate scaling factors to EC emissions and boundary concentrations. Observation data from Lidar and radiosonde suggest the possible overestimation of planetary boundary layer height, which is a vital parameter representing vertical diffusion. The findings of this work can help to improve air quality models to that they can be used to develop more effective strategies for reducing PM2.5 concentrations.