Overview of Regional-Scale Numerical Models

Abstract

The general concept of a regional scale developed from the application of atmospheric pollution models to predict or diagnose air quality over air sheds. The regional scale is proposed to be the ?- and α-mesoscale subrange, which includes atmospheric phenomena having horizontal wavelengths of 25?2500 km. To support this definition, examples are presented of unusual regional-scale flow regimes. Moreover, documentation is provided of the transport of suspended atmospheric pollutants over distances of 100?1000 km. Descriptions are provided of ongoing and future field programs for measuring regional-scale atmospheric phenomena. A review is made of many region-scale numerical models including both weather-prediction and air-quality models. Potential contributions of regional-scale meteorology to assessing the impact of new energy technologies are also described.