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ARL NewsSummary of NOAA-EPA MeetingApril 8, 2004A web site summarizing the outcome of the first of the series of meetings among EPA and NOAA scientists is now being prepared. The key conclusions are summarized in the overview statement as follows. On March 2-3, 2004, more than 100 EPA and NOAA scientists and managers met in Research Triangle Park, NC to discuss "Air Quality Research to Guide National Policy and Programs." This was the first in a series of meetings to be held under the EPA-NOAA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Air Quality Research and the parallel Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Air Quality Forecasting signed by the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and EPA Administrator on May 6, 2003. Future meetings are planned on "Linking Air Quality Models to Climate Change Models (September 2004 in Boulder, Colorado)" and on "Multimedia and Transboundary Exchange (February 2005 in Annapolis, Maryland)." These meetings will lead to the "Jubilee Celebration of 50 years of EPA-NOAA Partnership on Air Quality (September 2005 in Research Triangle Park, NC)." The purpose of these meetings is to ensure the two agencies work together to improve existing air quality assessment and prediction capabilities. This first meeting was very successful and productive. The major agreement was to focus future collaborative research on the "Urban Atmospheric Environment." Included would be measurement, modeling, monitoring, and data analysis activities associated with emissions, source receptor relationships, aerosol formation and composition, human exposure including indoor/outdoor exposure, health impacts, satellite observations, meteorology, trends, accountability, and homeland security. To facilitate implementation of this program, field studies in key urban test beds would be targeted, such as in the National Capital area, New York City, Houston, Philadelphia, Denver, Las Vegas, and Southern California. The program could well build upon current and planned field programs, such as the ongoing DCNet program of the Washington, DC, downtown area, the proposed experiments soon to take place in New York City, and the Texas field study in the Houston area in 2006. NOAA funds to support some of this program appear to be in place, but an EPA initiative of $10M will be needed to ensure effective EPA participation. Other collaboration activities were identified which will support the overall "Urban Atmospheric Environment" theme. Following a series of background presentations on activities of the various EPA and NOAA programs, the meeting focused on five research areas. A summary of the agreements and action items follows: Group I, Atmospheric Process Research – The purpose of this session was to define collaborative research projects that will increase the understanding of the chemical, meteorological and deposition processes that determine air-quality. Also, implied in this discussion is the independent evaluation of emission inventories that is based on inconsistencies between our current understanding of these processes and our measurements of ambient concentrations and deposition loadings. Collaborative projects include:
Further coordination and investigation needed:
Group II, Atmospheric Model Evaluation Research – The purpose of this session was to define collaborative research projects that will increase the understanding of the tools, techniques, and data available for model evaluation. Collaborative projects include:
Further coordination and investigation needed:
Group III, Air Quality Forecasting – The purpose of this session was to build upon the existing collaborative program currently underway to develop an air quality forecasting program for real-time public health advisories. Further coordination and investigation needed:
Group IV, Source Characterization and Source Emissions - The purpose of this session was to define collaborative research projects that will increase the understanding of the emissions to the atmosphere that determines air-quality. Also, implied in this discussion is the independent evaluation of emission inventories that is based on inconsistencies between our current understanding of these processes and our measurements of ambient concentrations and deposition loadings. Collaborative projects include:
Further coordination and investigation needed:
Group V, Special Issues in Air Quality Including Homeland Security - The purpose of this session was to define collaborative research projects that will address any special issues or research not specifically covered by other groups including homeland security, fine scale modeling, urban modeling, and human exposure modeling. Collaborative projects include:
Further coordination and investigation needed:
From the five breakout sessions, the overarching theme of "Urban Atmospheric Environment" was identified along with two common topics which need increased collaboration--field studies and satellite data utilization. Additional communication will be pursued in these areas including potential workshops. To facilitate collaboration, coordination and communication between the EPA and NOAA scientists, EPA agreed to establish a science portal for exchange of information and data. The first products on this electronic portal will be the presentations from this meeting. It was also noted that personnel exchanges for special assignments would be beneficial. In summary, the meeting was successful in setting the stage for increased collaboration in this already productive scientific relationship between EPA and NOAA and identifying research needs to address the "Urban Atmospheric Environment." Contact information: Bruce B. Hicks |
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