There is a wide range of regional (i.e., meso-scale) meteorological models available today (e.g., WRF, MM5, MC2, RAMS).  Each is capable of solving the complex atmospheric processes needed to predict the meteorological variables required for emission processing and pollutant transport / chemistry modeling.  Weather stations tend to be spaced relatively far apart; one of the primary jobs of meteorological models is to fill in the weather patterns that occur between weather stations.

RWDI has conducted studies involving all aspects of meteorological modeling and has experience with a number of different meteorological models and processors, including MM5, MC2, and CALMET.  In addition to running the models themselves, RWDI has experience in the preparation of inputs and running of model preprocessors such as four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA), performing sensitivity tests, post processing model outputs, and undertaking detailed qualitative and quantitative analyses. 

RWDI staff have performed sensitivity tests using MM5 and other models under different synoptic conditions and have evaluated the impacts attributed to different combinations of boundary layer schemes, microphysics options, cloud and convective schemes, FDDA techniques, etc.

Relevant Projects

Over the past several years, meteorological modeling in support of emission and atmospheric transport and chemistry modeling has been performed over a wide range of domains and episodes, including eastern Canada, the Pacific Northwest region of Canada and the US and southern China and Hong Kong. 

High-Resolution MM5 Sensitivity Runs for the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong and China. 

In addition to meteorological, emission, and photochemical modeling performed by RWDI for the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, RWDI was retained to evaluate MM5 model sensitivity to Four Dimensional Data Assimilation (FDDA) and the choice of option for boundary layer simulation on a high-resolution (1.5 km grid cell resolution) model domain covering the Pearl River Delta region of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. 

MM5 Meteorological Modeling and Evaluation for July 11 to 19, 1999 Smog Episode for Environment Canada, Southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada

RWDI was retained by Environment Canada to set up the MM5 meteorological model and run it for the July 11 to 19, 1999 summer smog episode that occurred over southeastern Canada (southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.) and the northeastern United States. 

MM5 Meteorological Modeling and Evaluation for July 28 to August 11, 2001 Smog Episode for Environment Canada, Southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Meteorological conditions in Eastern Canada during the period from July 28 to August 11, 2001 were simulated using the Fifth Generation NCAR / Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) by RWDI for Environment Canada.  The domain covers southeastern Canada (southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.) and the northeastern United States, with 36 km grid spacing and 27 vertical layers. 

MM5 Meteorological Modeling and Evaluation for August 1 to 5, 1999 Smog Episode for Environment Canada, Alberta and Western Canada

RWDI was retained by Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Region, to model the meteorological conditions in Alberta during the period from August 1 to 5, 1999.  Meteorological modeling was performed using the Fifth Generation NCAR / Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5).  In this study, MM5 version 3.5 was run on both an Intel PC running the Windows 2000 operating system, and on an Intel Linux PC running the Redhat LINUX (V.7.3) operating system. 

Wind Map Study, Anchorage, Alaska

RWDI conducted a one year study to assess spatial variation in extreme wind speeds throughout the Anchorage area.  The area has extensive topography and experiences various orographically-induced wind storms.  The study included 3-D meteorological modeling with CALMET to develop a potential wind field study for structural design considerations in the Anchorage area.

Wind Resource Mapping Study, Prairie Region, Canada

RWDI West Inc. was retained by Shell Canada Ltd. to prepare wind speed and air density maps, as well as wind frequency histograms for a >30,000 km2 region (location confidential).  Monthly wind speed and direction was provided as wind frequency histogram tables and wind speed maps at two heights at more than 1070 locations.  The meteorological data used were model outputs from Environment Canada's operational Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model, and HIgh Resolution Model Application Project (HIMAP) model.

Meteorological Processing for a Models-3 Application in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

The Institute of Chemical Process and Environmental Technology (ICPET) of the National Research Council of Canada (CNRC) retained RWDI to conduct meteorological modeling using MM5 in support of advanced air quality modeling. 

Relevant Publications by RWDI Staff

Boulton, J.W., M.F. Lepage, X. Qiu, and M. Gauthier (2002), Recent Applications of MM5, SMOKE, and CMAQ in Canada, 2002 Models-3 Users' Workshop, Raleigh, North Carolina, October, 2002.

Qiu, X. and M. Lepage, (2002), MM5 Cloud Prediction and Its Impact on CMAQ Modeling in Southern Ontario, AMS 12th Joint Conference on Air Pollution Meteorology with A&WMA, Norfolk, VA, 2002.

Pagowski, M., and M. F. Lepage (2000), Meteorological Processing for a Models-3 Application in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada, AMS 11th Joint Conference on the Applications of Air Pollution Meteorology with the A&WMA, Long Beach, California, January 2000.