Comparison between atmospheric chemistry model and observations utilizing the RAQMS–CMAQ linkage

EPAʹs Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model was used to investigate the influence of lateral boundary conditions (LBCs) on ozone simulation. Meteorological fields used to drive the model were from the fifth generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). Emission files were prepared from the Sparse Matrix Operating Kernel for Emissions (SMOKE) model. Realtime Air Quality Modeling System (RAQMS) model with assimilated satellite observations were used as the LBCs for the CMAQ. CMAQ simulations with RAQMS LBCs and predefined LBCs were compared with INTEX Ozonesonde Network Study (IONS) ozonesonde data and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite measurements. CMAQ forced with RAQMS LBCs could reasonably reproduce the vertical profiles of ozone mixing ratio. It was revealed that the influence of LBCs on ozone simulations is significant in the upper troposphere, moderate in the middle troposphere, and small in the lower troposphere. CMAQ model outputs provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the quality of the current air quality model and would help mission designers to better design future mission.