Air Quality Forecasting

Catalog description

Issues relating to the prediction and dispersion of air pollutants are discussed. METEO 419 Air Quality Forecasting (3) Prediction of air quality is discussed from the perspective of operational weather forecasting. The chemical properties of pollutants for which public forecasts are currently made, fine-scale particulate matter and ozone, are summarized to provide the physical background for making forecasts. The impacts of weather on pollutant concentrations are discussed. Current techniques for forecasting air quality are presented and used by the students to create their own air quality forecasts. Students present air quality weather briefings and post-analysis of significant historical air quality events. To take this course, students must have the background provided in a basic course in chemistry and a basic course in meteorology that covers weather systems governing the transport of air pollution.