Grid computing method for atmospheric environmental capacity coupled with ventilation coefficient using CALPUFF simulation and GIS spatial analysis technology

ABSTRACT

Atmospheric environmental issues have evolved from point source pollution to regional pollution, leading to controlling specific air pollutant emissions. A-value method has been found suitable for estimating large-scale atmospheric environmental capacity rather than small-scale, resulting in the inaccuracy of developing air pollution control strategy. This study proposed a grid computing method based on the CALPUFF modelling system and GIS spatial analysis tool. The meteorological data from the MM5 model were used to simulate the spatial distribution of air pollutants. The meteorological flow field data was used to simulate the ventilation coefficient. The A value was revised with the simulated to achieve accurate results of atmospheric environment capacity. The credibility was verified by applying this method to Fengtai District, Beijing, China. The research area was divided into small partitions via the ArcGIS spatial analysis tool. The simulation results agreed well with the observation data from actual monitoring stations, even for the PM₁₀ concentration with the most significant error (MRE: 7.05%−13.28%, RMSE: 11.62–17.89, R²: 0.84–0.90). The GIS spatial analysis tools were applied to match the underlying surface types and overcome the restrictions of administrative boundary management. The study proposed four schemes to achieve differentiated air pollutant emission reduction and develop suitable control strategies. Furthermore, this method can be applied on different scales of natural geographic boundaries and realize the precise spatial management of atmospheric environmental capacity.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Air pollutants
• atmospheric environmental capacity
• ventilation coefficient
• spatial distribution
• air pollution control strategy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.