Comments on the OTAG AQA Workgroup, Proposed Ad Hoc Air Trajectory Analysis Team

Preliminary goals and tasks for the AHAT workgroup

Note: This preliminary outline and task list was developed by Bret Schichtel and Rich Poirot.
As the AHAT group takes form, some specific goals to be accomplished by the group have developed.
The following outline list these major goals along with specific task and workers. The list of possible tasks and practitioners is suggested as an "idea list" only, and does not imply agreement to do work. It's intended to generate some feedback and modifications from any interested participants through the OTAG Air Quality Analysis Web site.
AHAT MISSION: To compliment and support the air quality analysis and modeling workgroups through the use of airmass histories and meteorological data. This is to be done by addressing the four goals listed below:
1) Aid in the verification and analysis of the UAM modeling intensive periods
a) comparison of the RAMS wind fields during the 1995 intensive to observed wind fields (ST Rao, NEMAC; Dick McNider, SOS; others)
b) comparison of trajectory results from the RAMS wind fields to those from alternative meteorological drivers (NGM, MM5, etc.) (ST Rao, NEMAC; Dick McNider, SOS; others)
2) Perform transport climatologies.
a) Conduct residence time analysis at selected high and low elevation rural sites through the OTAG domain (Possible practitioners: Paul Wishinski, Rich Poirot, VT DEC, others?)
b) Conduct Trajectory exploration of S.T. Rao's statistically disaggregated components of ozone signal for selected sites (Possible practitioners: ST Rao, Elvira Brankov, Eric Zalewsky, NY DEC; Paul Wishinski, Rich Poirot, VT DEC, others?).
c) Conduct Trajectory analysis of Unique high elevation urban ozone data for Sears Tower, Chicago and World Trade Center, NYC (Possible Practitioners: Scott Leopold, IL EPA, ST Rao, NY DEC, others?).
d) Conduct Trajectory assessment of flows associated with ozone at uniquely rural sites in the NDDN network (Possible practitioners: Eric Edgerton, ESE/SOS, others?).
e) Conduct Trajectory-based comparison of 1995 vs earlier ozone years in Texas (Possible practitioners: Albert Hendler, Radian,others?).
3) Examine strengths and weaknesses of trajectory models and met drivers
a) Intercomparison of trajectory results from different trajectory models and met drivers (for example HY-SPLIT vs. CAPITA vs. AES, etc. (Possible practitioners: Bret Schichtel, CAPITA; Paul Wishinski, VT DEC, others?)
b) Explore methods of incorporating uncertainties into individual trajectory calculations and various trajectory applications, i.e. residence time, etc.) (Possible practitioners: Bret Schichtel, CAPITA; Paul Wishinski, VT DEC, others?).
4) Illustrations of transport of ozone (Possible practitioners: Bret Schichtel)

Submitted by Bret Schichtel RecID: BretSchichtel

Re: Priliminary goals and tasks for the AHAT workgroup

In response to the preliminary goals & tasks list for AHAT, the following summarizes what VT DEC can reasonably get accomplished in time for use by the OTAG AQA Workgroup reports due in July & August 1996:

Goal 2): (a) As of May 17, 1996 we have completed full sets of back-trajectories for 17 ozone monitoring sites in the Eastern U.S. covering June/July/August time periods for yrs 1989 thru 1995. A set of six hi-elevation ozone sites has been analyzed and a preliminary report on the residence time (airmass histories) has been presented to the AQA Workgroup. Residence time calculations for six mid-west sites has been completed and a report can be generated within a week time period, but currently other activities are taking priority. Five other sites along the northeast coast also have similar completed residence time plots, but no final analysis.
(b) Also as of May 17 we have done a single site (Whiteface Mtn) in-so-far as using residence time plots to examine S.T. Rao's statistically disaggregated components of ozone at that site. Eric Zalewsky sent us the files of disaggregated components and they were analyzed using the same Whiteface HY-SPLIT trajectories which had been used in part (a) work above. To date a preliminary report has been assembled but not yet sent back to Dr. Rao's group for their input. We plan to get back to this analysis as soon as we can get a draft of the initial results to Dr. Rao and have a discussion about the plots.
Goal 3): (a) As of May 17 we have completed two sites for the June/July/August period in 1995. Initial residence time plots for the two sites have compared favorably (they look quite similar and appear to support similar conclusions) for sets of trajectories generated by HY-SPLIT and sets generated using CAPITA's MonteCarlo model. We expect to have a preliminary report on these sites at least ready for the June AQA Workgroup meeting.
Further work still is planned to complete a third site and also to compare some of the individual trajectories.
(b) As of May 17 VT DEC has not begun any focus on this aspect but will support an effort in this area in cooperation with CAPITA.


Submitted by Paul Wishinski RecID: PaulWishinski

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Thoughts on AHAT Goals & Ground-rules

Here are some last-minute thoughts on possible "AHAT Goals and Ground-rules" - to be discussed on today's (3/29/95) AHAT conference call: AHAT Goals: 1. Provide an open forum for exchange of technical information among individuals interested in applications of air trajectory analysis of ozone and related pollutants; 2. Identify, conduct and/or review air trajectory analysis tasks for submission to OTAG Air Quality Analysis Workgroup. Ground-rules: 1. Too many rules are not conducive to # 1 above, but some rules seem necessary to assure quality of # 2 above. 2. AHAT should ba a completely open process - anyone is free to conduct analyses, submit reports, and to submit review comments. 3. Maintain a record of all submitted reports and comments. 4. (Revolving) Leadership - Current Quasi-chair will seek group input for agenda of AHAT conference calls or meetings, will moderate calls or meetings, write summary (unless we can get Carol Sue to do it), and select new quasi-chair to do same for next call/ meeting. What do you think?

Submitted by Richard Poirot RecID: RichardPoirot

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