Lay Summary

Air pollution in dense urban streets poses severe health risks, but local pollutant levels fluctuate dramatically based on street architecture, wind, and traffic patterns. This paper presents an international intercomparison study evaluating microscale dispersion models used to predict long-term urban air quality. By comparing different computational models against real-world measurements across European hot spots, the researchers assess model precision and consistency. The findings help urban planners select reliable simulation tools to design cleaner street corridors and safeguard public health in cities. (84 words)

Full Abstract

High-resolution microscale dispersion models are increasingly applied to assess annual pollutant concentrations and human exposure within complex urban street canyons. As part of a FAIRMODE joint intercomparison exercise, this study evaluates multiple microscale modeling systems against long-term air quality monitoring data from European urban hotspots. We analyze model sensitivities to meteorological inputs, building geometry representations, and background concentration estimates. The intercomparison identifies key sources of variability among models, establishing best-practice guidelines for applying microscale CFD and Gaussian dispersion frameworks in urban air quality management.

Metadata

• Publication Date: 2024
• Author: F. Martín, S. Janssen, V. Rodrigues, J. Sousa, J.L. Santiago, E. Rivas, J. Stocker, R. Jackson, F. Russo, M.G. Villani, G. Tinarelli, D. Barbero, R. San José, J.L. Pérez-Camanyo, G. Sousa Santos, J. Bartzis, I. Sakellaris, Z. Horváth, L. Környei, B. Liszkai, Á. Kovács, X. Jurado, N. Reiminger, P. Thunis, C. Cuvelier
• Journal: Atmospheric Environment / Environmental Modelling & Software