Design and Development of Maqm, an Air Quality Model Architetcture with Process-level Modularity

Atmospheric processes affecting air quality are very complicated, and scientific understanding of these processes has been evolving rapidly. To successfully simulate concentration levels and changes of atmospheric pollutants, it is highly desirable to have air quality models with full and flexible modularity at the science process level. Such a modular air quality model would significantly enhance model transparency, facilitate scientific understanding, promote science algorithm development, and enable effective error checking and corrections. It would open the door for broad participation of the air quality modelling community in the model development and improvement processes, which is essential to ensure complete and robust science in the models.