Application of GEM-Surface to high resolution modelling - A case study for Warsaw

The world’s population is becoming increasingly urbanized. Urbanization development significantly modifies the moisture, radiation balance, thermal stability, and aerodynamic properties at the surface level. Urban areas often are several degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside. Overall, a warmer climate will lead to increased energy consumption, air pollution and a higher risk of human mortality.

This study focuses on examining the ability of the GEM-Surface model to reproduce the diurnal cycle of the meteorological parameter, including fluxes over Warsaw as well as the thermal and turbulent structure of the atmosphere downwind from Warsaw with the resolution of 1 km. The  Town Energy Balance (TEB) module was run on-line in an interactive mode, where it contributed to the energy balance of the host meteorological model. Urban effects in the GEM model are described with the TEB parameterization.

The impact of the modified atmospheric stability over Warsaw on the distribution of the pollutants will be studied using the GEM-AQ model.