Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 4 5 2004 10.5194/acpd-4-5455-2004 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5455/2004/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5455/2004/acpd-4-5455-2004.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5455/2004/acpd-4-5455-2004.pdf 5455 5514 2004-09-21 Mesoscale modeling of combined aerosol and photo-oxidant processes in the eastern Mediterranean M. Lazaridis lazaridi@mred.tuc.gr A. Spyridaki S. Solberg J. Smolík V. Ždímal K. Eleftheriadis V. Aleksandropoulou O. Hov P. G. Georgopoulos Technical University of Crete, Department of Environmental Engineering, 73100 Chania, Greece Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), PO BOX 100, N 2007 Kjeller, Norway Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic N.C.S.R. “Demokritos��?, 15310 Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece Norwegian Meteorological Institute, PO Box 43 Blindern NO-0313 Oslo, Norway EOHSI, University of Medicine and Dentistry and Rutgers University, New Jersey, NJ, USA Particulate matter and photo-oxidant processes in the Eastern Mediterranean have been studied using the UAM-AERO mesoscale air quality model in conjunction with the NILU-CTM regional model. Meteorological data were obtained from the RAMS prognostic meteorological model. The modeling domain includes the eastern Mediterranean area between the Greek mainland and the island of Crete. The modeling system is applied to study the atmospheric processes in three periods, i.e. 13–16 July 2000, 26–30 July 2000 and 7–14 January 2001. The spatial and temporal distributions of both gaseous and particulate matter pollutants have been extensively studied together with the identification of major emission sources in the area. The modeling results were compared with field data obtained in the same period. Comparison of the modeling results with measured data was performed for a number of gaseous and aerosol species. The UAM-AERO model underestimates the PM₁₀ measured concentrations during summer but better comparison has been obtained for the winter data.