Introduction
This page includes instructions for how to use the WAQS emissions modeling platforms for preparing inputs for CAMx and CMAQ. The WAQS modeling platforms include all of the scripts, software, and data required for preparing inputs to CAMx and CMAQ. The process for creating air quality model (AQM)-ready emissions starts with downloading the software and data packages for a modeling platform. The WAQS Base2011b modeling platform is used as an example here to describe how to prepare emissions for CAMx and CMAQ.
Emissions Processing Overview
The WAQS emissions are first processed for input to CAMx (CB06). CMAQ (CB05) emissions are then created by converting the CAMx emissions using post-SMOKE processing utilities. There are a few important details needed to understand how the processing streams differ for CAMx and CMAQ.
Natural vs. Anthropogenic Sources
All of the anthropogenic sources (e.g. onroad mobile, CEM point) are processed in SMOKE and output in CAMx binary format. All of the natural emissions sources, which include biogenics, windblown dust, seasalt, and lightning, are processed outside of SMOKE. Post-processing utility programs (camx-utils) are used to merge the natural and anthropogenic emissions to create AQM-ready files.
3-D PMDETAIL Fires for CMAQ
While both CMAQ and CAMx support in-line plume rise calculations, only CAMx supports in-line processing of the PMDETAIL fires used for the WAQS. For CMAQ, the PMDETAIL fire inventories must be processed to 3-dimensional files (i.e. vertically allocated) using SMOKE. A hybrid version of CMAQ is used to both calculate in-line plumes for the non-fire point sources (e.g. CEM points) and read in the 3-d fire emissions files.
Processing Schematic
SMOKE
CAMx Utililities
CAMx2CMAQ