Rapid industrial development in North African countries requires
scientifically sound air quality modeling analysis to support economical and policy decisions while sustaining a better environment. Results using comprehensive air quality models can be used to guide
environmental policies for various countries. An air quality simulation system that includes emissions, meteorology and chemistry components is used to study the fate of pollutants on a regional scale in North Africa. The Multiscale Air Quality Simulation Platform (MAQSIP) is a state-of-the art chemistry transport model that provides modular, generic, and extensible science components. The governing model equations are formulated in generalized coordinates, thereby providing the capability of interfacing the model with a variety of meteorological drivers. The model employs flexible horizontal grid resolution with multiple nested grids with options for one-way and two-way nesting procedures. It also facilitates the incorporation of new and improved representations of algorithms to study a variety of atmospheric environmental problems including the formation of oxidants and particulate matter, acid deposition, and visibility degradation. The overall objective of this study is to demonstrate the applicability of regional air quality models over the industrial regions in North Africa for studying some of the air pollution episodes during summer, particularly those related to ozone formation and transport . MAQSIP has been used to simulate the air quality during a ten-day period during the summer of 1993. The Meteorological conditions during this episodes are prepared by the Mesoscale Meteorology model (MM5). Emissions are prepared using the Global Emission Inventory Activity (GEIA). We will discuss the effect of atmospheric dynamics on predicted pollutant concentrations in Egypt. Model simulation are compared with available ozone measurements in
Egypt to evaluate the model simulations in predicting spatial and temporal variations in surface ozone and related pollutants.
Symposium on Interdisciplinary Issues in Atmospheric Chemistry