Introduction to the 10th Harmonisation conference

Helge Rørdam Olesen

National Environmental Research Institute (NERI)

Denmark

Chairman of the initiative on

Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling

for Regulatory Purposes

Outline

• History• The forthcoming Air Quality Directive• How can we pool experiences?

(Not in proceedings)

Conference arranged by the Initiative on

Harmonisation within

Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling

for Regulatory Purposes

Background for the kick-off meeting (in Ispra, 1991)

• There was a great number of regulatory models in use within Europe.

• Generally, the models applied were not scientifically up-to-date.

• A lack of common standards and tools

• Difficult to make statements on model merits

• Model evaluation and quality assurance are in focus

Background for the kick-off meeting (in Ispra, 1991)

• There was a great number of regulatory models in use within Europe.

• Generally, the models applied were not scientifically up-to-date.

”Harmonisation”

• Not harmonisation in the sense that a single model is appointed as the one-and-only.There has been no support for a stiff system.

• There are good reasons for having a variety of models.

• However, it does makes sense to harmonise certain tools, datasets and procedures - and to be able to make statements on model merits.

• Very important: to pool experiences.

Forthcoming

Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air

The European Commission: Thematic Strategy on Air PollutionPublished September 2005

Outlines• the environmental objectives for air quality• measures to be taken to achieve these objectives.

Based on work within CAFE: Clean Air For Europe

A programme of technical analysis and policy development

The proposed new Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air

• States shall undertake assessments of ambient air quality with respect to the pollutants referred to in Article 5 throughout their territory, in accordance with the criteria laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Article.

Official comment on the proposed new Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air

• The proposals will require some additional monitoring of air quality though the costs involved are small and of the order of several million Euros. This will improve our understanding of air pollution and should permit in the longer term a greater use of modelling when assessing air quality rather than using more expensive monitoring.

How can it be assured that assessments based on modelling

are considered trustworthy?

Challenge for the Commission - and the rest of us

To formulate an operational set of requirements for modelling in view of questions such as

• Are models of sufficient quality?• What is the accuracy of modelling?• How can it be ensured that models are applied in

an appropriate manner?

- and the fact that there are hardly two countries which use the same model.

The Commission receives input through

• A ’Data Exchange Group’ established by DG ENV through nominations from Member States, EEA, ETC/ACC

• Projects such as Air4EU, CityDelta, Street Emission Ceilings

- but is open towards input from others.

Does your work address the challenge of

defining requirements for models

?

A question for all of you:

Central theme underlying the entire conference:

How can we pool experiences?

How can we encourage re-use of our work?

A concept with a strange name:

A wiki

’Wiki’ :

• a website that allows users to to easily create web pages and edit pages others have created.

• Wikis are excellent for collaboration, because anybody can contribute to web pages.

Wikipedia.org

Launching a Wiki onatmospheric dispersion

Unique features of a ’wiki’ web site (1):

• In contrast to traditional web sites, it is possible for anyone to contribute easily to its contents.

• In contrast to traditional scientific publishing, you can add small bits of information - you do not have to wait, until you have prepared a complete scientific paper.

• In contrast to existing email distribution lists the information is archived in a structured manner. Furthermore, you can add information on findings that are only of interest for a very small audience, not for an entire mailing list.

Unique features of a ’wiki’ web site (2):

• Warnings against pitfalls and common mistakes are of high interest. My idea is to encourage researchers to report on pitfalls they encounter, and which they would like to warn others against.

• Many knowledable researchers have pet subjects. They possess a vast experience, which newcomers to the field lack. On a wiki, experienced researchers can in an informal way issue advice related to their pet subjects.

Link to the prototype wiki will be established from

www.harmo.org

Will the Atmospheric Dispersion Wiki survive?

• The objective is to pool experiences on atmospheric dispersion in a collaborative environment.

• The first version is a prototype. It will be revised as needed.

• Possibly it will be difficult to reach the necessary critical mass for the site to be of interest - but it is worth a try!

• Feedback on the WIKI idea are very welcome -- contact me directly.

• After the conference, I will advertise the existence of the Wiki more widely - and ask for contributions.

Concluding remarks

• Can we generate input for the Commission in their attempts to set up requirements for models?

• Let us pool experiences! We can use this conference to announce tools of common interest.

• When you present your work, try to put it into a context:

How does your work fit into the overall picure?

How can it be used by others?