Real-Time Regional Air Quality Modelling in Support of the ICARTT 2004 Campaign.

During the summer of 2004, the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) coordinated the largest field study related to air quality so far. Over 500 scientists from 5 different countries, 11 planes, 1 ship, 2 satellites and numerous ground sites were involved in characterizing the emissions of particulate matter (PM), ozone and their precursors, their chemical transformations, and their removal during transport to and over the North Atlantic and into Europe. The study was organized around three main objectives: characterizing the regional air quality in eastern North America; assessing the export of smog related air pollution from eastern North America and its evolution as it travels towards Europe; and assessing the possible effects of the PM associated with the smog on our climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]