WG2: Interactions, parameterizations and feedback mechanisms

A list of processes of interactions between chemical and meteorological parameters has been put together in collaboration with a large number of COST participants. The main input was collected during and after the joint COST ES1004 WG2/WG4 workshop in Hamburg in November 2011. This list is important for identifying specific focal areas for the Action and has already been valuable for identifying model variables which are most relevant for evaluating feedback mechanisms in online coupled models (WG4 and AQMEII Phase 2 activities). It has also been used for updating the COST728/732 model inventory.

Relevant discussions during dedicated WG2 meetings have already led to a better common understanding of technical terms, which are widely used but with different meanings, e.g. feedback mechanisms, feedback chains, coupling processes, etc. A explanatory note has been written by one of the WG2 coordinators defining coupling mechanisms between chemical and dynamics mathematically.

Close collaboration with WG4 has been established, and contributions to the overview paper of Baklanov et al. (2014) have been made by several WG2 participants. This overview paper is the basis for the WG2 deliverable ‘Overview of the current state-of-the-science on interactions, parameterizations and feedback mechanisms for integrated modeling’. A literature search was made to identify other relevant publications in regard to the current state-of-the-art. Suggestions for additions to the list are highly welcome!

An expert survey has been conducted to get an expert judgement on which coupling processes might be most relevant for the different modelling communities (numerical weather prediction, chemical weather foracasting, and climate modelling) and on how well these processes are implemented in current model system. The result can be found in three separate tables, for NWP, CWF, and Climate models, respectively.

The main activity during the third and forth years of COST ES1004 WG2/WG4 have focused on coordinated modelling studies together with AQMEII Phase 2. In collaboration with WG4, a protocol for modelling output has been divised (last updated February 2015). One of the WG2 coordinators presented the plans and current status at the joint COST ES1004 WG2/WG4 workshop in Thessaloniki in October 2014. 

Selected publications

Kong et al., 2014: Analysis of meteorology–chemistry interactions during air pollution episodes using online coupled models within AQMEII phase-2.

Forkel et al., 2014: Analysis of the WRF-Chem contributions to AQMEII phase2 with respect to aerosol radiative feedbacks on meteorology and pollutant distributions.

Makar et al., 2014a: Feedbacks between Air Pollution and Weather, Part 1: Effects on Weather.

Makar et al., 2014b: Feedbacks between Air Pollution and Weather, Part 2: Effects on chemistry.