Modelling Air Quality and Deposition at High Resolution in the Netherlands with Plume and Grid Models

We present high resolution (1 x 1 km(2)) modelling of air quality and deposition in the Netherlands. We use the OPS model, a combination of a Gaussian plume model for local processes and a Lagrangian trajectory model for long-range transport, to calculate these concentration and deposition maps. Earlier work has shown that the OPS model typically yields better results for precursor gases like NH3 and NOx, as compared to a Eulerian model, due to its higher resolution. However, for secondary aerosols Eulerian models perform better because in the OPS model the chemistry is strongly parameterized. Here we elaborate on this work, by making a comparison between the OPS model and the Eulerian model EMEP. The latter is run in an EMEP4NL configuration, in which the horizontal resolution can be increased to the same level as used for the OPS model, i.e. 1 km resolution. This allows for a valid assessment of the state of performance for precursor gases like NH3 between the OPS model and a state-of-the-art Eulerian model.