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Atmospheric Modelling

Research areas

Research conducted in the group for Atmospheric Modelling is focused on the fundamental processes involved in atmospheric transport, chemical transformation and deposition of air pollution. The group develops and applies local to hemispheric scale air pollution models and also integrates air pollution models with environmental and health impacts, economic valuation and climate change. 

Model developments and applications

This is carried out in a highly interdisciplinary environment with researchers from other fields, by coupling atmospheric models with effect models and models for the corresponding economic valuation. Furthermore, the group provides support for decision-makers in the form of impact assessments for specific emission sources, such as the agricultural sector, industry, traffic; transport of air pollution to the Arctic; climate change and air pollution interaction; weather and air pollution forecasting as well as integrated monitoring.

The aim is to provide, within the area of air pollution modelling and integrated impact assessment modelling, the highest capability in Denmark in research, development, application, teaching, talent development, public sector consultancy and decision support.

Atmospheric models

The atmospheric models developed and applied can be classified into three different groups:

  • Local scale models, which account for emissions, atmospheric transport, and chemical reactions and deposition close to the sources such as traffic, industries and farms. The models can be applied, for example, in street canyons, near highways or point sources up to a scale of around 20 km; and in the lokal background in a domain covering Denmark. Examples of such models are OML, UBM, DALMOSPM and OML-Highway.
  • Long-range chemical transport models, which describe emissions, atmospheric transport, chemical reactions and deposition on a regional scale. These models cover the scale of Denmark, Europe and the northern Hemisphere. Examples are DEHM and DREAM.
  • Integrated model systems and decision support systems. These models cover various scales and applications. Typically, the integrated model systems have been developed to cover several scales at the same time, such as for weather and air pollution forecasting, or for integration with impact assessment models. The integrated model systems describe, for example, exposure to air pollution, impacts on human health or the environment, and related economic valuation of the impacts. Examples of integrated model systems are THOR, EVA (Economic Valuation of Air pollution), and AirGIS.

    You can read more about all the atmospheric models here