12.05.2004: Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 4, 2569-2613, 2004

Using GOME NO2 satellite data to examine regional differences in TOMCAT model performance

N. H. Savage, K. S. Law, J. A. Pyle, A. Richter, H. Nüß, J. P. Burrows

This paper compares column measurements of NO2 made by the GOME instrument on ERS-2 to model results from the TOMCAT global CTM. The overall correlation between the model and observations is good (0.79 for the whole world, and 0.89 for north America) but the modelled columns are too large over polluted areas (gradient of 1.4 for North America and 1.9 for Europe). NO2 columns in the region of outflow from North America into the Atlantic seem too high in winter in the model compared to the GOME results, whereas the modelled columns are too small off the coast of Africa where there appear to be biomass burning plumes in the satellite data. Several hypotheses are presented to explain these discrepancies. Weaknesses in the model treatment of vertical mixing and chemistry appear to be the most likely explanations. It is shown that GOME and other satellite data will be of great value in furthering our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and in targeting and testing future model development and case studies.

Full paper available at http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/acp/acpd/4/2569/acpd-4-2569.pdf