Curriculum Elements for Advanced Air Quality Models

Mathematics
Air Pollution Concentration Statistics
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
Meteorology
Modeling
Computer Science

Essential Science

Mathematics

Vector Analysis
Solving vector equations
Calculus and Differential Equations
- Differential calculus
- Integral calculus
- Solving differential equations
Probability and Statistics (Basic Theory)

Air Pollution Concentration Statistics

Probability distributions for air pollution concentrations
Properties of the binormal variate distribution (Gaussian equation)
- Percentiles
- Standard deviation of pollutant concentrations
Exceedances of the standard
Selection of averaging times
Alternative forms of air quality standards

Chemistry

Atomic structure and the elements
Molecular structure
- Chemical bonds
- Radicals
Chemical equations
- How to read equations
- Stoichiometry and limiting reagents
- Reaction rates
Equilibrium
- Theory
- Conditions for equilibrium
Thermodynamics
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Organic nomenclature
Classes of Air Pollutants
- VOCs
- Inorganic gases
- Particulates
Air Pollution Chemistry
- Gas-phase atmospheric chemistry
- Aqueous-phase atmospheric chemistry
- Mass transfer aspects of atmospheric chemistry
Aerosols
Specific Chemical Pathways of Pollutants (formation, breakdown)
- Ozone
- Acid deposition
- Toxics

Physics

Phases of matter (Gas, liquid, solid)
- Ideal Gas Law
- Vapor pressure
Motion
- Straight line
- Rotational
- Newton's Laws of Motion
Gravitation
- Newton's law of gravitation
- Weight vs. mass
Fluid Mechanics
Temperature and Heat
Thermal Properties of Matter
Electric Charges and Electric Fields
Electromagnetic Waves
Light/Visibility
- Reflectance
- Irradiance

Engineering

Control technologies
- Introduction to various methods of control
- Collection efficiencies
Emissions
- What are emissions?
- Where do they come from?
- What factors affect the amount of emissions?
- How are they classified?
  - Criteria pollutants
  - Toxics
- Types of sources
  - Point sources
  - Area sources
  - Mobile sources
  - Biogenic sources
- How are emissions monitored/measured?
  - Time intervals
- How are emissions estimated?
  - Source test
  - Material balance
  - Emission factors
  - Source classification codes (SCCs)
  - Limitations
- Emissions inventory procedures
- Estimation Tools (FIRE, TANKS, AP-42)
  - What's in the databases?
  - How are they used?

Meteorology

The Earth and its atmosphere
- Composition
- Vertical structure
Atmospheric energy balance
- Radiation
- Energy balance for Earth and atmosphere
- Greenhouse effect
Temperature and heat transfer
- Conduction
- Convection
- Daily temperature variations
Humidity and Condensation
- Vapor pressure
- Dew point
Wind
- Forces that Influence the Wind
  - Pressure gradient force
  - Coriolis force
Scales of motion
- Global, regional, urban, point/plume
- Vertical scales
- Give examples of meteorological phenomena falling into these categories
Global atmospheric circulation patterns
- Westerly winds and jet streams
Local Circulation Effects
- Topography
- Land-Sea Breeze
- Mountain-Valley Winds
Air masses, fronts, cyclones
Atmospheric Stability and Vertical Mixing
- Adiabatic Heating and Cooling During Vertical Air Movement
- The Effect of Lapse Rate on Vertical Stability
- Temperature Inversions
The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL)
- Mixing height
- Similarity theory - Parameterizations (simplifying reality)
- Processes
  - Convection
  - Deposition - removal
  - Precipitation
  - Terrain
Above the Planetary Boundary Layer
- Processes
  - Convection
  - Deposition - removal
  - Precipitation
Physical Meteorology
- Aerosols, Acid Deposition, PM-10
- Visibility
Transport and dispersion
Measurements/Instruments
- Direct (cups and vanes)
- Indirect (profilers and sounders)
- Surface vs. aloft

Modeling

What is a model?
- Function of models
- Inputs, algorithms, outputs
- Limitations of models
- Uncertainty
- Sensitivity
- What is an air quality model?
Four kinds of models (Add physical?)
- Analytical
- Eulerian
- Lagrangian
- Statistical
Current models
- Dispersion models
- Gaussian (point/area/line)
- Grid (urban/regional/global)
UAM
UAMGUIDES
Models-3
- Overview of Models-3
  - Features (modularity, comprehensive, extensible, etc.)
  - Purpose/function
  - Which pollutants will be modeled?
    - Ozone
    - Acid deposition (future)
    - Aerosols and toxics (future)
  - Hourly concentrations of pollutants
- How the system works
  - What are the components of the system?
    - Input/output databases
    - Preprocessors
    - Submodels (Transport and dispersion, DSS, etc.)
  - How do these components relate to/interact with each other? The process.
- Transport and dispersion modules, MM-5 (Met Model, version 5)
  - How do they work?
  - Data requirements
    - What data is required?
    - Guidelines for data usage, projection into future
    - Sources for data
    - Format
    - QA/QC
  - Assumptions
  - Limitations
- Chemical reaction modules
  - How do they work?
  - Data requirements
    - What data is required?
    - Guidelines for data usage, projection into future
    - Sources for data
    - Format
    - QA/QC
  - Assumptions
  - Limitations
- Emissions Database
  - What data is required?
  - Guidelines for data usage, projection into future
  - Sources for data
  - Format
  - QA/QC
- Cost Database (control technology)
- Developing control strategies
- Running Models-3 - Scenarios
  - Defining the problem/ goal setting
  - Defining initial conditions
- Decision support
  - "What if" scenarios
  - Optimization strategies
  - Sensitivity Analysis
- Model interpretation
  - Are the results reasonable?
  - Strategies for understanding model results

Computer Science

Overview of computer applications - what computers can do, how they can help you do your job
How to interact with computers (interfaces, the mouse)
- How to navigate through system
- How to customize toolbars
Unix system basics
Computer requirements for running Models-3
- Memory
- Speed
Programming languages?
Database management
Files