Air quality real-time operational forecasting system for large industrial plants: an application of MM5-CMAQ modelling system

The advances in air quality modelling have been substantial in the last decade. Nowadays, air quality modelling systems are capable to provide accurate information on the impact of different sources in relation to the total air pollution concentrations in real-time and in forecasting modes. In this contribution we show the results of the impact of five different industrial plants on a mesoscale domain by using MM5-CMAQ as the air pollution modelling system. The system has been implemented by using an emission model which includes antropogenic and biogenic emissions. The system is tested in real-time and in forecasting mode by implementing the “base case” in routine operational mode which includes emissions of five large industrial plants operating in a test area located at the south of the Madrid city domain. The sensitive cases include the impact of disconnecting the emissions of each of the industrial plants completely and also the scenario of disconnecting 50% of the total emissions for each industrial plant. The results show that the modelling system is capable of determining the impact of the different emission scenarios in real-time and in forecasting mode. The emission patterns have been implemented in a 72/120 hours pattern which means that after 72 hours the emissions are reduced completely or to 50% to evaluate the impact on the air pollution concentrations. Air Pollution XII, C. A. Brebbia (Editor) © 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-722-1