Multi-model evaluation of short-lived pollutant distributions over east Asia during summer 2008

Abstract : The ability of six global and one regional model to reproduce distributions of tropospheric ozone and its precursors, as well as aerosols over Asia in summer 2008 is evaluated using satellite and in-situ observations. Whilst ozone precursors (NO2 and CO) are generally underestimated by the models in the troposphere, surface NO2 concentrations are overestimated, suggesting that emissions of NOx are too high. Ozone integrated columns and vertical profiles are generally well modeled, but the global models face difficulties simulating the ozone gradient at the surface between urban and rural environments, pointing to the need to increase model resolution. The accuracy of simulated aerosol patterns over eastern China and northern India varies between the models, and although most of the models reproduce the observed pollution features over eastern China, significant biases are noted in the magnitude of optical properties (aerosol optical depth, aerosol backscatter). These results have important implications for accurate prediction of pollution episodes affecting air quality and the radiative effects of these short-lived climate pollutants over Asia.