The CHIMERE atmospheric chemistry-transport model
Objective
CHIMERE simulates and predicts the impacts of different emission control scenarios on air quality (ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter concentrations) in Europe at different scales
Model characteristics
The CHIMERE multi-scale model is primarily designed to produce daily forecasts of ozone, aerosols and other pollutants and make long-term simulations for emission control scenarios. CHIMERE runs over a range of spatial scales from the regional scale (several thousand kilometers) to the urban scale (100-200 Km) with resolutions from 1-2 Km to 100 Km. CHIMERE proposes many different options for simulations which make it also a powerful research tool for testing parameterizations, hypotheses. Its use is relatively simple so long as input data is correctly provided. It can run with several vertical resolutions, and with a wide range of complexity. It can run with several chemical mechanisms, simplified or more complete, with or without aerosols.
Typical features and results
- CHIMERE is one of the models used in the frame of the French national plate-form for air quality forecasting (PREV'AIR). The model is also used in the frame of EMEP through the EURODELTA and CityDelta projects. For both ozone and PM, the model has undergone extensive intercomparisons on aerosol concentrations at European and city scales. More than 50 publications have been published in international journals. A version is also dedicated to the simulation of dust concentrations Recently, an optical module has been developed to validate the model with satellite products.
Data sources
- Meteorological data from WRF, MM5 models, or ECMWF
- Emission data (usually from EMEP)
- Boundary conditions from global models (GOCART, LMDz-INCA)
Input from other EC4MACS models
- Emission inventories for the various species from the GAINS model
Output to other EC4MACS models
- Spatial fields of PM and ozone concentrations over Europe (to the GAINS model)
Developed by
IPSL/LMD, INERIS and LISA
Link
- The model is freely available with a full documentation at :
http://www.lmd.polytechnique.fr/chimere/