This article includes a detailed description of KOoreg portal (www.kvalitetazraka.si), which is the number one result of this project and is intended for the public use of daily monitoring of detailed weather forecasts and the diagnosis and prognosis of local air pollution in the Zasavje region. Additionally, a complementary page was set up on Facebook. The web page operating online has been recording regular visits and is advertised as an important acquisition for local communities by the local municipalities and industry. This is the first real-time demo page for pollution monitoring based on models and methods, for which detailed prior validation was being carried out in the area above the complex terrain. The modelling of such complex terrain as the Zasavje canyon still represents a scientific challenge. The web portal demonstration also features detailed descriptions for the general public. In our opinion, raising awareness among the general public in the region experiencing massive problems related to air pollution is very important. By doing so, we are making a contribution towards a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind the causes of air pollution, which is a prerequisite for implementing the necessary measures to improve the circumstances and their adaptation among the residents.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26486823
For the air pollution modelling studies over highly complex terrain, vertical wind profiles are essential. In the article we present evaluation about using the WRF model as the source of wind profile information. We tested WRF’s one day short-term forecasts at 4 km and half hour resolution running every day to obtain 3D meteorological fields and compared these data with the different meteorological stations. The results show an inadequate agreement with ground level meteorological stations, especially in basins and valleys, and a better agreement with stations situated at the top of hills and with a tower station. There is also a novel approach to the terrain complexity characterisation of the area under examination defined – ‘height and length of Topographic complexity, hlTc’. It is invented to quickly and unambiguously compare the model’s resolution and terrain complexity and the consequential meteorological characteristics we wish to describe. The goal of introducing the new hlTc index is the numerical description of the consistency of the horizontal resolution of the applied model with the actual dimensions of terrain complexity.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26486567
When using air pollution dispersion models, it is of vital importance to know whether they are realistic and the results are consistent with the actual state, or we only get “pretty pictures” which are not even statistically consistent with reality. Because model validation is a complex problem mainly due to the 3D results, and because the estimators used up until now only tell us about the individual elements of consistency with measurements, we have added a new validation method especially suitable for determining the locational and temporal accuracy of modelled concentrations over complex terrain.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25031463
The validation of air pollution dispersion modelling is the key information for gaining confidence in the results. This validation can only be credible by comparing the modelling results with the actual state in nature. The actual implementation of such validation presents a great challenge for air pollution modelling, mostly due to complexity of measurements. This article presents a new validation method, which has been developed and perfected by performing air pollution dispersion modelling over the complex terrain of the Zasavje region that took place under this research project. It also includes a description of the reasons why there are discrepancies between the modelling results and the actual state in nature.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25938215
Paper presents three new methods to improve the computational performances of air-pollution modelling methodology based on Lagrangian particle dispersion model. New methods are developed in such a manner that properties of the original air-pollution model are preserved in their original form. All methods are complementary one to another and each one can be integrated into existing methodology separately as a standalone method. The first method is application of the clustering method for a reduction of the computational cost. The second method is the cell concentration kernel density estimation method adaptation thatis used to substitute the box counting concentration estimation method. The Lagrangian particle-dispersion control method based on artificial neural networks is presented as third method to control the parameters of the Lagrangian particle model. All methods are applied to Spray Lagrangian particle model (product of Arianet s.r.l.) and validated on two field data sets on highly complex terrain in Slovenia. One of this field data set sets has been made within this research project Kooreg representing complex terrain of Zasavje region. Due to terraing complexity Zasavje represents one of the most challenging areas for air pollution modelling validations.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25337639