<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">GEP</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2327-4336</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/gep.2015.38002</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">GEP-60181</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Enhancing Air Quality Forecasts over Catalonia (Spain) Using Model Output Statistics
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>íctor</surname><given-names>Andrés Pérez</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Raúl</surname><given-names>Arasa</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Bernat</surname><given-names>Codina</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Jesica</surname><given-names>Piñón</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Department of Astronomy and Meteorology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Technical Department, Meteosim S.L., Barcelona, Spain</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>rarasa@meteosim.com(RA)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>09</day><month>10</month><year>2015</year></pub-date><volume>03</volume><issue>08</issue><fpage>9</fpage><lpage>22</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>10</day>	<month>September</month>	<year>2015</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>accepted</day>	<month>6</month>	<year>October</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>9</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2015</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Model Output Statistics (MOS) is a well-known technique that allows improving outputs from numerical atmospheric models. In this contribution, we present the development of a MOS algorithm to improve air quality forecasts in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain. These forecasts are obtained from an Eulerian coupled air quality modelling system developed by Meteosim. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO
  <sub>2</sub>), Particulate Matter (PM
  <sub>10</sub>) and Ozone (0
  <sub>3</sub>) have been the pollutants considered and the methodology has been applied on statistical values of these pollutants according to regulatory levels. Four MOS algorithms have been developed, characterized by different approaches in relation with seasonal stratification and stratification according to the measurement stations considered. Algorithms have been compared among them in order to obtain a MOS that reduces the forecast uncertainties. Results obtained show that the best MOS designed increases the accuracy of NO
  <sub>2</sub> maximum 1
  &amp;#45h daily value forecast from 71% to 75%, from 68% to 81% in the case of daily values of PM
  <sub>10</sub>, and finally, the accuracy of O
  <sub>3</sub> maximum 1-h daily value from 79% to 87%.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Air Quality Modelling</kwd><kwd> Forecasting</kwd><kwd> Model Output Statistics (MOS)</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Air quality is one of the main issues that concerns current atmospheric research. Global air pollution has an impact on human health [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref1">1</xref>] , climate change [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref2">2</xref>] and on the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref3">3</xref>] . Meteorological and air quality related environmental phenomena influence and limit the regional and urban development and safety management, which often leads to severe negative impacts on public health, economy and environment of polluted areas.</p><p>In Spain, annual average values of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) and Particulate Matter (PM<sub>10</sub>) are elevated in many urban air quality measurement stations with traffic influence [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref4">4</xref>] . Whereas, high ozone levels are measured in rural or suburban areas located downwind of urban or industrial locations and where local ozone precursors are lacking [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref6">6</xref>] .The area of study is Catalonia (41.82˚N, 1.47˚E) in north-eastern Spain, in which six episodes with high levels of pollutants have been recorded in the last five years, thus making the Catalan Government adopt temporary mitigation measures. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref> shows the topographical features of Catalonia. Black dots point the four provinces that divide the studied area.</p><p>For these reasons, it will be desirable that public administrations may count on tools which enable them to anticipate the potential risks caused by pollution, helping the management of health, economical and environmental impacts that may affect the polluted areas of its population. In this sense, models are a very useful tool for local administrations for planning and managing production, human resources, activities and emergency procedures; and to introduce improvement plans of air quality urban areas. Nowadays, coupled Eulerian air quality models are useful tools to manage air pollution, and they can even complement or replace air quality monitoring in terms of what the European Directive establishes.</p><p>Despite years of refinements and improvements, meteorological and air quality models still contain significant errors. Several statistical techniques have been designed and applied in the last few years [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref7">7</xref>] -[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref12">12</xref>] in order to reduce the uncertainty of their forecasts. In this work, we focus on the use of the Model Output Statistics (MOS) technique to improve forecasts obtained by an air quality modelling system. MOS has been applied usually to meteorological applications [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref13">13</xref>] -[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref17">17</xref>] but there are a few applications on air quality [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref18">18</xref>] -[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref20">20</xref>] . Air quality forecasts have been obtained by a coupled Eulerian air quality modelling system developed by Meteosim [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref21">21</xref>] . This coupled air quality modelling system has been applied and tested successfully in urban (Madrid or Barcelona in Spain; Nice in France) and industrial areas (Ponferrada or Tarragona in Spain). This air quality modelling system has been evaluated using Maximum Relative Directive Error [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref22">22</xref>] referred in the European</p><fig id="fig1"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref></label><caption><title> Topographical features of Catalonia</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x6.png"/></fig><p>Directive EC/2008/50. Results obtained from this evaluation accomplish the model uncertainty limits according to the Directive for the pollutants O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub> and CO, having used measurements from more than 120 stations (urban, suburban and rural locations) during a period of three years.</p><p>The MOS technique has been applied to daily values of NO<sub>2</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>, maximum 1-h daily values of NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> and maximum 8-h daily values of O<sub>3</sub> forecasted over Catalonia (Spain). Air quality measurement data have been provided by the Air Quality Network that belongs to the Territory and Sustainability Department of the Catalonian Government. The study includes a numerical deterministic evaluation that shows the accuracy of the air quality modelling outputs with and without the MOS technique.</p><p>Description of the model output statistics technique and the uncertainty evaluation methodology are presented in section 2; a detailed analysis of the results obtained is presented in section 3; and finally, some conclusions are reported in section 4.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Methodology</title><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Model Output Statistics</title><p>The technique Model Output Statistics (MOS) computes regression equations between observed and model forecasted variables. These equations are later applied to the raw model output to get a modified and statistically corrected output.</p><p>This technique requires a set of variables from the modelling system to be corrected and a set of observed variables. These datasets cover a time period known as training period. Its length is variable but it is advisable to have the longest possible period to include potential cycles. In this work we have used the period comprised between the 24th of October 2012 and the 31st of August 2013, which includes 720,000 hourly values.</p><p>Within the MOS correlation equations we distinguish between predictands and predictors. The predictant is the dependent variable to be forecasted or corrected. In developing our MOS, the predictants will be the statistics described in the introduction: maximum 1-h value and daily values for NO<sub>2</sub>, daily value for PM<sub>10</sub> and maximum 1-h and 8-h values for O<sub>3</sub>.</p><p>The predictors are the independent variables of the regression equations. In this work, we have used the concentration values forecasted by the modelling system. Since we have only used one predictor, we will omit the discussion about predictor-selection algorithms [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref23">23</xref>] -[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref27">27</xref>] . It is worth mentioning that in a preliminary phase we did test the viability of using more predictors, such as hourly data and its derived statistics, as well as past observational data. However, we finally found out that the use of the statistics of each pollutant as obtained by the modelling system produced the best results.</p><p>Often, the datasets employed in the regression equations are grouped in order to optimize the forecasting relationships and improve the precision of the MOS technique. This grouping is usually referred to as data stratification.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Error Statistics</title><p>In order to evaluate the potential improvements of the MOS technique on the modelling system, we will use a numerical validation. Several statistics will be used for the error measurement of the differences between results obtained with and without MOS. Most of them are typical statistics employed in error evaluation in meteorological models [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref22">22</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref28">28</xref>] and, in particular, in air quality models [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref29">29</xref>] -[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref31">31</xref>] . Reference [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] draws some recommendations on the maximum thresholds for some of these statistics in the analysis and forecast of pollutant concentrations<sup>1</sup> that we will use in this work.</p><p>In the next definitions, n is the sample size, o<sub>i</sub> and f<sub>i</sub> the observed and forecasted values, where i &#206; [1, n]:</p><p>Mean normalized error:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.60181-formula697"><label>(1)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x8.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Reference [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] recommendation: MNBE &lt; &#177;15%.</p><p>Mean normalized gross error:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.60181-formula698"><label>(2)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x9.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Reference [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] recommendation: MNGE &lt; 35%.</p><p>Index of agreement:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.60181-formula699"><label>(3)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x10.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>This is a statistic to evaluate with a single value the goodness of fit of a modelling system with respect to the observations. As close as one is the value, the best is the fit; and it worsens as it approaches to zero.</p></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Forecast Evaluation</title><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> shows a summary of the errors of the modelling system in the training period using the above described statistics.</p><p>As can be seen, most of the statistics fall within [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] recommendations, with the exception of the values of the PM<sub>10</sub> pollutant. The presence of these errors, however, justifies the need of developing a MOS.</p></sec><sec id="s2_4"><title>2.4. Description of the Proposed MOS Categories</title><p>From the observed and modelled data, we have proposed two kinds of stratifications:</p><p>・ A seasonal stratification. The analysis of observed concentration exhibits a dependency on temperature, especially remarkable for ozone, which suggests splitting the training stage in 4 different periods. At first glance one could think that a natural division would involve climatologically seasons, but the study of mean temperature and concentration of the considered pollutants show that this division is not appropriate. We have finally chosen a division in training periods in which the values of temperature and pollutants change significantly from one to another (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>).These periods turned to be 23 Oct 2012 to 02 March 2013 (defined as Period 1), 03 March 2012 to 01 May 2013 (defined as Period 2), 02 May 2013 to 06 July 2013 (defined as Period 3) and 07 July 2013 to 31 August 2013 (defined as Period 4).Stratification according to the measurement station in order to identify systematic errors and biases of each measurement point.</p><p>・ Stratification according to the measurement station in order to identify systematic errors and biases of each measurement point.</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Summary of the errors of modelling system in the training period</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Pollutant</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Description</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >NO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 1-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.7%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29.5%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.863</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Daily value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.8%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >24.9%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.912</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >PM<sub>10</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Daily value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−24.5%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.1%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.751</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >O<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 1-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.5%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.3%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.618</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 8-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.6%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25.9%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.678</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Average maximum hourly and daily values of NO<sub>2</sub>, daily value of PM<sub>10</sub> and maximum hourly and 8-hourly values of O<sub>3</sub> within each period</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Pollutant</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Statistic</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="4"  >Observed Mean (&#181;gm<sup>-3</sup>)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Period 1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Period 2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Period 3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Period 4</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >NO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 1-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >53</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Daily value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >PM<sub>10</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Daily value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >O<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 1-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >95</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >100</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >120</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 8-h value</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >108</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig-group id="fig2"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref></label><caption><title> Average daily time evolution of concentration values of NO<sub>2</sub> (a) PM<sub>10</sub> (b) and O<sub>3</sub> (c) for the considered periods.</title></caption><fig id ="fig2_1"><label>(b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x11.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig2_2"><label>(c)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x12.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig2_3"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x13.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>A total of 2 &#215; 2 separations have been done, yielding to 4 different categories. <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref> shows a summary of the categories and the nomenclature that will be used.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results</title><p>In this section we analyze the errors resulting from applying a period-specific trained MOS on the modelling output system. We use the deterministic numerical validation, the comparison between mean daily evolutions, and the comparison of the frequency histograms of the average errors of each category as well as the parameters of a Gaussian fit. This will allow us to choose the best MOS for each pollutant and statistics.</p><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. NO<sub>2 </sub></title><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref> shows the error analysis statistics of the different categories after having been applied to the modelling system of the NO<sub>2</sub> pollutant. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref> shows a comparison between normalized mean absolute errors in each category.</p><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref> show that MOS E C produces the best results for both the maximum hourly value and the daily value. Notice that MOS 0 and MOS C do not improve the modelling system.</p><p>In case of the maximum hourly value, MOS E C reduces MNBE from 11.7% to 9.5% of the modelling system, reduces MNGE from 29.5% to 24.3%, and increases IOA from 0.86 to 0.91.</p><p>For the daily value, MOS E reduces MNBE from 11.8% to −0.9%, thus correcting the overestimation of the modelling system, reduces MNGE from 24.9% to 18.1%, and increases IOA from 0.91 to 0.95.</p><p>The frequency histograms of <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(a) and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(b) have been created to better analyze the improvements of the different categories. These histograms display the error distributions of the modelling system and of</p><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Summary of the proposed MOS categories</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >No stratification by measurement stations</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >With stratification by measurement stations</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >No stratification by periods</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With stratification by periods</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Errors of all MOS categories as well as NO<sub>2</sub> forecasting system</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  >Maximum 1-h value</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  >Daily value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Observed mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Modelled mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Observed mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Modelled mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.863</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >24.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.912</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.847</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.913</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >26.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.887</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.943</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−12.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.853</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−4.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >30.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.917</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >24.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.905</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.953</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig3"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison of MNGE and MNBE between the different MOS categories and the NO<sub>2</sub> modelling system for maximum 1-h value [left] and daily value [right]</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x14.png"/></fig><fig-group id="fig4"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref></label><caption><title> Histograms of error distributions in the evaluation of the modelling system and the MOS categories for maximum hourly values (a) and daily values (b) of NO<sub>2</sub>.</title></caption><fig id ="fig4_1"><label>(b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x15.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig4_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x16.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>maximum hourly values and daily values for each MOS category. Obviously, better results are associated to centred and peaked distributions.</p><p>As can be seen, the error distributions of both MOS E and MOS E C are the sharpest and narrowest and so the best. For daily values, the best results are attained by MOS E C but closely followed by the rest.</p><p>Through a Gaussian fit, we have calculated the width (twice the standard deviation) and displacement of the distributions with respect to the origin. The results are presented in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref>. MOS E features a near zero shift and the narrowest width and MOS E C features the smallest displacement and width for daily values among all categories.</p><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>(a) let us compare the time evolution of the mean daily values of observed maximum hourly values of NO<sub>2</sub> with those forecasted by the modelling system and those corrected by MOS E C. And <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>(b) shows the same comparison for daily values.</p><p>Paying attention at the behaviour of the errors on measurement stations we see that, in general, the improvement introduced by MOS E C is quite apparent in the maximum 1-h values, exhibiting generalized reductions in MNBE and MNGE and increases in IOA. MOS E C reduces MNBE in 78% of the measurement stations and 88% exceed [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] acceptance criteria for both MNBE and MNGE, which turned out to be only 69% and 75%, respectively, with the raw modelling system. On the other hand, the improvement produced by MOS E C over the modelling system in daily values is also very clear, reducing MNBE in 88% of measurement stations. Moreover, all stations exceed [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] acceptance criteria while 69% and 89% did, respectively, with the raw modelling system.</p><table-wrap id="table5" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref></label><caption><title> Parameters of the Gaussian fit of the different MOS categories with respect to the maximum hourly value and daily value of NO<sub>2</sub></title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Parameter</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Maximum 1-h value</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Daily value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Displacement (μ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Width (2σ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Displacement (μ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Width (2σ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.51</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.92</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.09</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.04</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.57</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.79</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig-group id="fig5"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref></label><caption><title> Time evolution of mean daily values of observed maximum hourly values of NO<sub>2 </sub>(a) and observed daily values (b) forecasted by the modelling system and corrected by MOS E C in the training period.</title></caption><fig id ="fig5_1"><label>(b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x17.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x18.png"/></fig></fig-group></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. PM<sub>10</sub></title><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref> shows the error analysis statistics of the different categories applied to the output of the modelling system of pollutant PM<sub>10</sub>. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref> displays the comparison between normalized mean absolute errors.</p><p>It can be seen that the best results are obtained with MOS E C. It decreases the underestimation produced by the modelling system, reducing MNBE from −24.2% to 5.9%, MNGE from 32.1 to 19.3% and increases IOA from 0.75 to 0.91.</p><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref> displays frequency histograms of the mean error distributions in forecasting daily values for different MOS categories and the modelling system. <xref ref-type="table" rid="table7">Table 7</xref> shows the parameters of the Gaussian fit.</p><p>The results are very similar for categories MOS E and MOS E C for which the curves are narrower and centred.</p><p>To further show the improvement introduced by MOS E C, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref> shows the comparison between the time evolution of daily PM<sub>10</sub> values observed, forecasted by the raw modelling system and corrected by MOS E C.</p><p>Focusing on the impact of MOS E C at the measurement stations, it can be seen that MOS E C diminishes MNGE in all of them. Moreover, all measurement stations exceed [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] acceptance criteria for MNBE and MNGE, which is a very good achievement since only 21% and 58%, respectively, of the stations, satisfied the criteria with just the modelling system.</p><table-wrap id="table6" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref></label><caption><title> Errors of all MOS categories as well as PM<sub>10</sub> forecasting system</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  >Daily value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Observed mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Modelled mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−24.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.751</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.796</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.884</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.812</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.907</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table7" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table7">Table 7</xref></label><caption><title> Parameters of the Gaussian fit of the different MOS categories with respect to the daily value of PM<sub>10</sub></title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Parameter</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Daily value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Displacement (μ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Width (2σ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.87</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.56</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.03</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.29</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.97</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig6"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison of MNGE and MNBE between the different MOS categories and the PM<sub>10</sub> modelling system</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x19.png"/></fig><fig id="fig7"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref></label><caption><title> Histogram of error distributions in the evaluation of the modelling system and the MOS categories for daily values of PM<sub>10</sub></title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x20.png"/></fig><fig id="fig8"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref></label><caption><title> Time evolution of daily PM<sub>10</sub> values observed, forecasted by the modelling system and corrected by MOS E C in the training period</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x21.png"/></fig></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. O<sub>3</sub></title><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table8">Table 8</xref> shows the error analysis statistics of this pollutant for the different categories and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref> the comparison among the mean normalized errors.</p><p>As can be seen, MOS E C gets the best results, both in the maximum hourly value and maximum 8-hourly.</p><p>In the maximum hourly value, MOS E C slightly increases the MNBE of the modelling system from 1.8% to 2.8%, reduces MNGE from 20.8% to 13.2%, and increases IOA from 0.62 to 0.91.</p><p>For the maximum 8-h value, MOS E C reduces the MNBE of the modelling system from 7.0% to 3.9%, MNGE from 25.3% to 15.5%, and increases IOA from 0.68 to 0.92.</p><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0 displays the mean error distributions of the forecasts of the values for every MOS category and the modelling system and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table9">Table 9</xref> summarizes the errors of the Gaussian fit.</p><p>The best results are attained by MOS C and MOS E C, especially the former, for the maximum hourly value. MOS C produces the narrowest curve followed by MOS E C, though they are not quite centred. For the maximum 8-hourly value, the best results are attained by MOS E C followed by MOS C. MOS E C has the smallest width but is not the best centred.</p><table-wrap id="table8" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table8">Table 8</xref></label><caption><title> Errors of all MOS categories as well as O<sub>3</sub> forecasting system</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  >Maximum 1-h value</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="5"  >Maximum 8-h value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Observed mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Modelled mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Observed mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Modelled mean (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNBE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >MNGE (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >IOA</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >86</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.618</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >79</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.678</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >22.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.623</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.702</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.748</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.779</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.845</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.851</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.910</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.917</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table9" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table9">Table 9</xref></label><caption><title> Parameters of the Gaussian fit of the different MOS categories with respect to the maximum 1-hourly value and maximum 8-hourly value of O<sub>3</sub></title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Parameter</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Maximum 1-h value</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Maximum 8-h value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Displacement (μ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Width (2σ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Displacement (μ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Width (2σ) (&#181;g∙m<sup>−3</sup>)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SIAM</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−4.77</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >44.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−2.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.45</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS 0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >44.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.04</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.36</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38.82</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.92</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >MOS E C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27.11</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig9"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison of MNGE and MNBE between the different MOS categories and the O<sub>3</sub> modelling system for maximum 1-h value [left] and maximum 8-h value [right]</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x22.png"/></fig><fig-group id="fig10"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0</label><caption><title> Histograms of error distributions in the evaluation of the modelling system and the MOS categories for maximum 1-hourly values (a) and maximum 8-hourly values (b) of O<sub>3</sub>.</title></caption><fig id ="fig10_1"><label> (b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x23.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig10_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x24.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>The improvements achieved by MOS E C are further analyzed in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1(a) and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1(b) which compare the evolution of the averaged maximum 1-h and 8-h values of O<sub>3</sub> forecasted by the modelling system and corrected by MOS E C.</p><p>The analysis of errors by measurement stations show that the improvement introduced by MOS E C over the modelling system for maximum hourly values is apparent for most of the stations, with a generalized reduction of MNBE and MNGE, and an increase of IOA. MOS E C reduces MNGE in all stations and, moreover, all of them end up verifying [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] acceptance criteria for MNBE and MNGE.</p><p>Furthermore, the improvements produced by MOS E C over the modelling system, in case of the maximum 8- hourly value, are also generalized, with reductions in both MNBE and MNGE and increases in IOA. MOS E C reduces MNBE in all measurement stations and [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.60181-ref32">32</xref>] criteria are met in all of them for MNBE and MNGE. This compares to 76% and 81%, respectively, of the measurement stations that met the criteria with the raw modelling system.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusions</title><p>In this paper, we have applied the well-known MOS methodology in air quality modelling, a field where this tech-</p><fig-group id="fig11"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1</label><caption><title> Time evolution of averaged maximum 1-hourly values (a) and maximum 8-hourly values (b) of O<sub>3</sub> observed, forecasted by the modelling system and corrected by MOS E C in the training period.</title></caption><fig id ="fig11_1"><label>(b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x25.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig11_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/2-2170071x26.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>nique is rarely employed. The output of an Eulerian coupled air quality modelling system feeds 4 MOS categories for each of these 5 statistics: maximum 1-h daily value and daily values of NO<sub>2</sub>, daily values of PM<sub>10</sub> and maximum 1-h and 8-h daily value of O<sub>3</sub>; this amounts to 20 MOS considered.</p><p>The best results for all statistics have been obtained with the category that stratifies by measurement stations and by periods, as expected. The stratification by measurement stations corrects systematic errors of the modelling system. The stratification by periods allows for the treatment of the seasonal dependency of concentration values.</p><p>In summary, the application of the MOS methodology increases the accuracy of the maximum 1-h daily value of NO<sub>2</sub> from 71% to 75%, the daily value of NO<sub>2</sub> from 75% to 82%, the daily value of PM<sub>10</sub> from 68% to 81%, the 1-h daily value of O<sub>3</sub> from 79% to 87% and the 8-h daily value of O<sub>3</sub> from 75% to 85%.</p><p>Our results highlight the improvements achieved by a quite simple mathematical tool with a very low computational cost. MOS methodology only increases a 2% the total computational cost of the operative air quality modeling system, and provides an improvement between 3% and 10% of the air quality forecasts. Nevertheless, one cannot forget that the MOS implementation should go in parallel with enhancements in the modelling system such as introducing better pollutants emission values to the modelling system. Any changes in the modelling system, however, imply the recalculation of the MOS regression coefficients.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>This work was funded by the Catalan Government and the Spanish Government through the projects PTOP- 2013-608 and PTQ-12-05244 respectively. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technicians at the Territory and Sustainability Department of the Catalonian Government for providing air quality measurements.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>V&#237;ctor Andr&#233;sP&#233;rez,Ra&#250;lArasa,BernatCodina,JesicaPi&#241;&#243;n, (2015) Enhancing Air Quality Forecasts over Catalonia (Spain) Using Model Output Statistics. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,03,9-22. doi: 10.4236/gep.2015.38002</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>NOTES</title></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.60181-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Newby, D.E., Manucci, P.M., Grethe, S.T., Baccarelli, A.A., Brook, R.D., Donaldson, K., Forastiere, F., Franchini, M.,  Franco, O.H., Graham, I., Hoek, G., Hoffmann, B., Hoylaerts, M.F., Künzli, N., Mills, N., Peklanen, J., Peters, A., Piepoli, M.F., Rajagopalan, S. and Storey, R.F. (2014) Expert Position Paper on Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease. European Heart Journal, in Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehu458</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Crutzen, P.J. (2004) New Directions: The Growing Urban Heat and Pollution Island Effect-Impact on Chemistry and Climate. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 3539-3540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.03.032</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref3"><label>3</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ritter, M., Müller, D., Tsai, M.-Y. and Parlow, E. (2013) Air Pollution Modeling over Very Complex Terrain: An Evaluation of WRF-Chem over Switzerland for Two 1-Year Periods. Atmospheric Research, 132-133, 209-222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2013.05.021</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref4"><label>4</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Querol, X., Viana, M., Moreno, T. and Alastuey, A. (2012) Bases científico-técnicas para un Plan Nacional de Mejora de la Calidad del Aire. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref5"><label>5</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Soler, M.R., Hinojosa, J., Bravo, M., Pino, D. and Vila, J. (2004) Analyzing the Basic Features of Different Complex Terrain Flows by Means of a Doppler Sodar and a Numerical Model: Some Implications to Air Pollution Problems. Meteorological Atmospheric Physics, 85, 141-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00703-003-0041-z</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref6"><label>6</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Aguirre-Basurko, E., Ibarra-Berastegui, I. and Madariaga, I. (2006) Regression and Multilayer Perceptron-Based Models to Forecast Hourly O3 and NO2 Levels in the Bilbao Area. Environmental Modelling Software, 21, 430-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2004.07.008</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref7"><label>7</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">McKeen, S., Wilczak, J. and Grell, G. (2005) Assessment of an Ensemble of Seven Real-Time Ozone Forecasts over Eastern North America during the Summer of 2004. Journal of Geophysical Research D, 110, Article ID: D21307.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref8"><label>8</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wilczak, J.M., McKeen, S. and Djalalova, I. (2006) Bias-Corrected Ensemble and Probabilistic Forecasts of Surface Ozone over Eastern North America during the Summer of 2004. Journal of Geophysical Research D, 111, Article ID: D23S28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2006jd007598</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref9"><label>9</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Delle Monache, L., Nipen, T., Deng, X., Zhou, Z. and Stull R. (2006) Ozone Ensemble Forecasts: 2. A Kalman Filter Predictor Bias Correction. Journal of Geophysical Research D, 111, Article ID: D05308.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref10"><label>10</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Kang, D., Mathur, R., Rao, S.T. and Yu, S. (2008) Bias Adjustment Techniques for Improving Ozone Air Quality Forecasts. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, Article ID: D23308.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref11"><label>11</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Djalalova, J., Wilczak, J., McKeen, S., Grell, G., Peck-Ham, S., Pagowski, M., DelleMonache, L., McQueen, J., Tang, Y., Lee, P., McHenry, J., Gong, W., Bouchet, V. and Mathur, R. (2010) Ensemble and Bias-Correction Techniques for Air Quality Model Forecasts of Surface O3 and PM2.5 during the TEXAQS-II Experiment of 2006. Atmospheric Environment, 44, 455-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.11.007</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref12"><label>12</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arasa, R., Soler, M.R. and Olid, M. (2012) Numerical Experiments to Determine MM5/WRF-CMAQ Sensitivity to Various PBL and Land-Surface Schemes in North-Eastern Spain: Application to a Case Study in Summer 2009. International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 48, 105-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJEP.2012.049657</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref13"><label>13</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Dallavalle, J.P., Ericksonv, M.C. and Maloney, J.C. (2000) Model Output Statistics (Mos) Guidance for Short-Range Projections. National Weather Service/NOAA.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref14"><label>14</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Nicolis, C. and Vannitsem, S. (2007) Dynamical Properties of Model Output Statistics Forecasts. Institute Royal Meteo-rologique de Belgique, Brussels.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref15"><label>15</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Glahn, B., Peroutka, M. and Wiedenfeld, J. (2008) MOS Uncertainty Estimates in an Ensemble Framework. NOAAN, Wakeld, VA.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref16"><label>16</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Monarski, A. (2011) Verification of Model Output Statistics Forecasts Associated with the North American Mesoscale Model Upgrade. Master’s Scholarly Paper, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref17"><label>17</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ranaboldo, M. (2011) Multiple Linear Regression MOS for Short-Term Wind Power Forecast. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref18"><label>18</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Karl, T.R. (1978) Potential Application of Model Output Statistics to Forecast of Surface Ozone Concentrations. National Meteorological Center’s Limited Area.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref19"><label>19</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Jianming, X. and Xiangde, X. (2010) Study of Statistically Correcting Model CMAQ-MOS for Forecasting Regional Air Quality. Nanjing University of Information Science Technology, Nanjing.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref20"><label>20</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Pijnappel, A. (2011) Statistical Post Processing of Model Output from the Air Quality Model LOTOS-EUROS. De Bilt, Stageverslag.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref21"><label>21</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arasa, R., Picanyol, M. and Solé, J.M. (2013) Analysis of the Integrated Environmental and Meteorological Forecasting and Alert System (SIAM) for Air Quality Applications over Different Regions of the Iberian Peninsula. http://www.harmo.org/Conferences/Proceedings/_Madrid/downloadItem.asp?CID=H15-70</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref22"><label>22</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Denby, B. (2010) Guidance on the Use of Models for the European Air Quality Directive. A Working Document of the Forum for Air Quality Modelling in Europe FAIR-MODE, ETC/ACC Report.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref23"><label>23</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Miles, J. and Shelvin, M. (2001) Applying Regression Correlation. Sage Publications, London.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref24"><label>24</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Pérez López, C. (2003) Estadística. Problemas resueltos y problemas. Editorial Pearson.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref25"><label>25</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wilks, S.D. (2006) Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences. Second Edition, Academic Press, Waltham.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref26"><label>26</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Montgomery, D.C., Peck, E.A. and Vining, G.G. (2011) Introducció al Análisis de Regressión Lineal. Grupo Editorial Patria. Tercera edición.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref27"><label>27</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Chatterjee, S., Hadi, A.S. and Price, B. (2012) Regression Analysis by Examples. Fifth Edition, Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref28"><label>28</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Willmott, C.J., Ackleson, S.G., Davis, R.E., Feddema, J.J., Klink, K.M., Legates, D.R., O’Donnell, J. and Rowe, C.M. (1985) Statistics for the Evaluation and Comparison of Models. Journal of Geophysical Research, 90, 8995-9005.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref29"><label>29</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">EPA (2009) Reassessment of the Interagency Workgroup on Air Quality Modeling (IWAQM) Phase 2 Summary Report: Revisions to Phase 2 Recommendations. Draft for Internal Review. US EPA Report No. EPA-454/R-09-XXX, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref30"><label>30</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arasa, R. (2010) Avaluació del rendiment del sistema de modelització MM5/MNEQA/CMAQ de la qualitat de l’aire per a pronosticar l’ozó a Catalunya. Tethys núm. 7.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref31"><label>31</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arasa, R. (2011) Modelització i simulació fotoquíimica mesoescalar del transport del material particular i gasos a l’atmosfera. Tesis doctoral, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref32"><label>32</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">EPA (1991) Guideline for Regulatory Application of the Urban Airshed Model. US EPA Report No. EPA-450/4-91-013. Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.60181-ref33"><label>33</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">EPA (2005) Guidance on the Use of Models and Other Analyses in Attainment Demonstrations for the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS. US EPA Report No. EPA-454/R-05-002, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.</mixed-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>