Three Decades of Integrated Atmospheric Composition & Meteorology Model Developments: Current Status and New Requirements

Online-coupled meteorology atmospheric composition models (CCMM) have greatly evolved in recent at least three decades. Although mainly developed by the air quality modeling community, these integrated models are also of interest for numerical weather prediction and climate modeling as they can consider both the effects of meteorology on air quality, and the potentially important effects of atmospheric composition on weather. Migration from offline to online integrated modeling and seamless environmental prediction systems are recommended for consistent treatment of processes and allowance of two-way interactions of physical and chemical components, particularly for AQ and numerical weather prediction (NWP) communities.

Regarding AQF and atmospheric composition modelling, the CCMM approach will certainly improve forecast capabilities as it allows a correct way of jointly and consistently describing meteorological and chemical processes within the same model time steps and grid cells. Applications that may benefit from CCMM are numerous and include: chemical weather forecasting (CWF), numerical weather prediction for precipitation, visibility, thunderstorms, etc., integrated urban meteorology, environment and climate services, sand and dust storm modeling and warning systems, wildfire atmospheric pollution and effects, volcano ash forecasting, warning and effects, high impact weather and disaster risk, effects of short-lived climate forcers, earth system modelling and projections, data assimilation for CWF and NWP, and weather modification and geo-engineering. Online integrated models, however, need harmonized formulations of all processes influencing meteorology and chemistry.

This presentation provides an overview and analysis of integrated meteorology & chemistry model developments during the last 30 year focusing on the main achievements, main trends in developments and applications, as well as the challenges and future research priorities. A special focus will be done on new requirements for further development and applications of CCMM for:

• Multi-hazard early warning systems,
• Integrated urban weather, climate and environmental systems,
• Adaptation and mitigation strategy for climate-smart cities,
• Earth System Prediction on different scales.