Programme

 

Program (pdf)

Instructions, how to attend the online conference  (pdf)

Sessions: 
  

  1. Model evaluation and quality assurance – model validation, model intercomparisons, model uncertainties and model sensitivities.
  2. Environmental impact assessment: Air pollution management and decision support systems.
  3. Use of modelling in support of EU air quality directives, including FAIRMODE activities.
  4. Parametrization of Physical Processes and Mathematical Problems in Meteorology and Air Quality Modelling.
  5. Urban Scale and Street Canyon Modelling: Meteorology, Air Quality and Passive Control Systems.
  6. Use of modelling in health and exposure assessments.
  7. Inverse dispersion modelling and source identification.
  8.  Modelling air dispersion and exposure to accidental releases.

  9. Highlights of past work. Session devoted to reviews and to prominent scientists and ‘golden papers’
    of the past, which have still relevance and should not be forgotten.

    There are also 3 special sessions in addition (harmo20_special_sessions.pdf):
     

SS1- Microscale modelling to support ambient air quality directives

 

A consultation within the FAIRMODE community made clear that micro-scale modelling is
increasingly being used in a policy context to support the implementation of the Ambient Air
Quality Directives (AAQD). One of the remaining open issues is however the derivation of
annual statistics (such as an annual average or percentiles) to support the assessment of the
AAQD indicators. FAIRMODE is currently inter-comparing different modelling approaches for
computing annual statistics of pollutant concentration in urban areas, and for providing spatial
distribution maps relevant for the AAQD. Several European groups are contributing using their
own microscale models and methodologies for computing annual statistics.
The aim of this session is, on the one hand, to present the ongoing exercise, its scope and
contents, and provide updated information about its current status. On the other hand, this
session will be an opportunity to discuss approaches to evaluate and inter-compare the
results, and what these results can imply for supporting the implementation of the ambient air
quality directives.

Scheduled agenda: 2 hours

Part 1 – PRESENTATION (Fernando Martin): Description of the FAIRMODE CT4 Inter-
comparison Exercise and current status.
Part 2 – DISCUSSION: what are the best approaches to evaluate and inter-compare the results
provided by the participants; what implications can be foreseen from the intercomparison
exercise results related to the ambient air quality directives.

 

 

SS2 – A CTM intercomparison platform to assess model
sensitivities to emission changes

 

This session focuses on the FAIRMODE activity that addresses the sensitivity
of model responses to emission changes. In particular it aims at assessing,
discussing, explaining and possibly reducing model discrepancies when models
are used for planning purposes. Its aim is to support model users and
developers, and, consequently, policy makers. To achieve this, a “Delta”
BenchMarking (DeltaBM) platform has been developed and fed, focusing on
the impact of local and regional emission reductions. This session at HARMO
conference will allow to show the state of the activities and to discuss further
steps, participations and publications.
 
The sensitivity of model responses to emission reductions when input data
(emissions, meteorology…) or the model itself are changed is recognised as an
important issue to be addressed in the context of FAIRMODE. It is indeed a key
element to ensure robust policy making. The scope of this activity is to assess,
discuss, explain and minimize model (mostly CTM) discrepancies with the
support of a dedicated modelling inter-comparison platform. During this
dedicated HARMO session, we will present the design of the inter-comparison
platform, show some preliminary results and discuss ways forward.

Scheduled agenda: 2 hours
Part 1 – MOTIVATION AND METHOD: an overall presentation to explain why
we set-up this platform, why we came out with this solution to approach the
issue, what do we want to check.
Part 2 – PRESENTATION OF THE PLATFORM: introduction to the overall set-
up and description of preliminary results achieved.
Part 3 – DISCUSSION: open discussion and planning of next phases.

 

SS3 – CORONA Virus Covid-19: effects of lockdown on air
quality, possible connections with air pollution.

 

The spread of Corona Virus Covid-19 in the first months of 2020 led to the
lockdown in several Countries worldwide. There are two main scientific issues
in the field of air pollution, which scientists are expected to investigate: how and
how much the lowering of the emissions due to the lockdown had an effect on
the air quality; whether and how the virus may be transported by aerosols and
spread in the atmosphere, outdoor and indoor, and how this can be modelled.
Contributions to this special session will be collected in early June, re-opening
the abstract submissions.

Scheduled agenda: 3 hours
Part 1 – INTRODUCTION TO THE SESSION: a presentation of the actual
situation and of the air-pollution items related to the Covid-19 spread.
Part 2 – PRESENTATIONS: oral and poster contributions of (preliminary)
studies performed.
Part 3 – DISCUSSION: open discussion and recommendations on how the air-
pollution community may contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon.

 
 
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