MSC-E chemical transport models were evaluated in a number of model intercomparison studies conducted during last decade.
HTAP multi-model numerical experiments (2006-2010)
A comprehensive model intercomparison study was conducted within the framework of the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollutants (TF HTAP) for a number of substances including mercury and POPs. A large number of chemical transport models from many countries took part in different numerical experiments aimed at evaluation of atmospheric dispersion on a global scale, assessment of intercontinental transport and forecasting future changes of pollution levels. The major results of the study including those by MSC-E are formulated in the HTAP 2010 Assessment Report:
Part C: Persistent Organic Pollutants
POP Model Intercomparison Study (2004-2008)
The Intercomparison Study of Multimedia POP transport Models was organized by EMEP/MSC-E. The aim of the study was to improve the understanding of POP long-range transport and their fate in the environmental compartments. The study included comparison of parameterizations for selected POPs and POP fate process descriptions used in POP models; evaluation of mass balance, POP concentration in different environmental media as well as inter-media exchange fluxes; and comparison of the ranking of selected POPs with regard to the overall persistence and the long-range transport potential. Main results of this intercomparison study were published in the journal paper (Hollander et al., 2008) and in a number of MSC-E technical reports:
Stage II. Comparison of Mass Balance Estimates and Sensitivity Studies
Mercury Model Intercomparison Study (2001-2007)
The Intercomparison Study of Numerical Models for Long-range Atmospheric Transport of Mercury was organized by EMEP/MSC-E. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of models to simulate atmospheric transport and transboundary fluxes of Hg in Europe. In the first phase of the study the physicochemical transformation of Hg species in cloud and fog environment were analysed. The second phase focused on evaluation of the modelling results against detailed observations from short-term field measurement campaigns. The third phase involved comparison of the model results with long-term measurements of Hg concentrations and wet deposition. The main results were published in a series of journal papers (Ryaboshapko et al., 2002; Ryaboshapko et al., 2007a; 2007b) in a number of MSC-E technical reports:
Stage I. Comparison of Chemical Modules for Mercury Transformations in a Cloud/Fog Environment
Stage II.Comparison of Modeling Results with Observations Obtained During Short-term Measuring Campaigns
References
Hollander, A., et al. (2008), Estimating overall persistence and long-range transport potential of persistent organic pollutants: A comparison of seven multimedia mass balance models and atmospheric transport models, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 10(10): 1139-1147.
Ryaboshapko A, Bullock R, Ebinghaus R, Ilyin I, Lohman K, Munthe J, et al. (2002) Comparison of mercury chemistry models. Atmos. Environ. 36, 3881-3898.
Ryaboshapko A, Bullock OR, Christensen J, Cohen M, Dastoor A, Ilyin I, Petersen G, Syrakov D, Artz RS, Davignon D, Draxler RR, Munthe J (2007a) Intercomparison study of atmospheric mercury models: 1. Comparison of models with short-term measurements. Sci. Total Environ. 376, 228-240.
Ryaboshapko A, Bullock OR, Christensen J, Cohen M, Dastoor A, Ilyin I, Petersen G, Syrakov D, Travnikov O, Artz RS, Davignon D, Draxler RR, Munthe J, Pacyna J (2007b) Intercomparison study of atmospheric mercury models: 2. Modelling results vs. long-term observations and comparison of country deposition budgets. Sci. Total Environ. 377, 319-333