Application of a Regional Atmospheric Emission Inventory to Ozone and PM Modelling over the French North Region: The summer 2006 Heat Wave Case Study

This paper reports on the first application of a Nord-Pas-de-Calais regional emission inventory to the CHIMERE-MM5 modelling system. Using statistical indexes, we compare computed data to hourly observations and daily maximum of ozone and PM concentration measured with the monitoring station network data period in order to evaluate the performance of the modelling system for the selected area. This comparison is presented for a coastal location (Dunkerque: 51.03° N/2.37° E) and an inland location (Lille: 50.63° N/3.07° E) during the June July summer 2006 period. The model gives an excellent reproduction of the daily ozone cycle both for inland and coastal region but underestimates (20 μg/m3 on average) the O3 hourly maxima over 180 μg/m3. The model underestimates the PM10 measured concentration and has difficulties to reproduce hourly maxima over 60 μg/m3 for both inland and coastal stations. The system has difficulties to reproduce O3 concentration when air masses flows are continental. The poor representation of monitoring coastal station for particles makes the system validation more delicate for this area. We recommend using high resolution (3 km) and grid nudging for the production meteorological data for the coastal location due to specific local dynamical conditions.