A High Resolution Study of Atmospheric Dispersion over a Coastal Urban Area with Complex Terrain

High resolution simulations were conducted to address the combined influence of meteorological conditions, topography and pollution sources on air quality. In this study we apply the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) nested down to a resolution of 0.5 km, to analyze the atmospheric behavior over the Haifa Bay Area in Israel. This area is characterized by a complex terrain adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. Simulations were carried out for a time period of 48 h, and for different synoptic conditions. In order to validate the model performance, a special high resolution radiosonde campaign was conducted and data from ground stations was collected. Results show a fair agreement between the model and ground stations, and similar trends for observed and simulated profiles. However, systematic differences between the model results and the measurements for specific features require further improvements of the simulations.