Pavel Juruš

Support Vector Regression of multiple predictive models of downward short-wave radiation

Accurate forecasts of weather conditions are of the utmost importance for the management and operation of renewable energy sources with intermittent (stochastic) production. With the growing amount of intermittent energy sources, the need for precise weather predictions increases. Production of energy from renewable power sources, such as wind and solar, can be predicted using numerical weather prediction models. These models can provide high-resolution, localized forecast of wind speed and solar irradiation. However, different instances of numerical weather prediction models may provide different forecasts, depending on their properties and parameterizations. To alleviate this problem, it is possible to employ multiple models and to combine their outputs to obtain more accurate localized forecasts. This work uses the machine-learning tool of Support Vector Regression to amalgamate downward short-wave radiation forecasts of several numerical weather prediction models. Results of SVR-based multi-model forecasts of irradiation at a large set of locations show a significant improvement of prediction accuracy.

Inverse modeling of emissions and their time profiles

The paper presents a version of the 4DVar method, capable of optimizing diurnal time profiles of emissions. It is a generalization of existing inverse methods that optimize emission daily totals. The core of the method is formed by the CMAQ adjoint model with SAPRC99 mechanism. Measurements from both ground–level stations (NO2 and O3), and satellites (retrieved columns of NO2 from GOME2 and OMI and the lowest layer of O3 retrieved from IASI) have been used as a data source for the inverse modeling procedure. The method can be used for detection of bias or errors in the emission model. It also can assist in development of data–driven emission model with location–specific time profiles of emissions. Different aspects of the method are illustrated on simulation experiments. Forecasting performance of the optimized model is evaluated for O3 and NO2 concentrations.

Nonlinearity and Prediction of Air Pollution

A presence of nonlinearity in time series of concentrations of air pollutants and in their relations to time series of meteorological variables is tested using information-theoretic functionals and the surrogate data approach. The results are discussed in relation to predictability of the pollutant concentrations aimed to alert smog episodes.

High resolution modelling of anthropogenic heat from traffic in urban canopy: A sensitivity study

Impact of climate change is often amplified in urban areas - particularly during the heat waves, the extreme temperatures are even more pronounced in cities due to the effect urban heat island (UHI). It is therefore important to improve our understanding of heat fluxes and energy balance in urbanized areas. We investigate the possibility of high resolution urban canopy modelling using PALM model. To account for the realistic implementation of urban canopy processes in complex urban geometry we enhanced PALM model including some of the most important urban canopy mechanisms including detailed description of physical properties of urban surfaces, calculation of shape view factors and plant canopy sink factor to model accurately both shortwave and longwave radiation budgets, and heat transfer within urban surfaces and on the interfaces of surfaces and atmosphere or ground. Such approach allows for very detailed modelling in high spatial and temporal scale. The simulation of the impact of anthropogenic heat from transportation has been conducted as one of the pilot experiments to test feasibility of this approach and also sensitivity of highly unstable turbulent flow heat exchange to a relatively small perturbation of input parameters.

On the development of urban adaptation strategies using ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation

Selected aspects of currently running project UrbanAdapt are described. The project deals with the adaptation of cities on changing climatic conditions. The main project objective is to start the process of preparation of cities adaptation strategies, developing adaptation scenarios and testing the effects and benefits of particular measures. Previously developed models of adaptation impacts are used with available real data and according to several prepared scenarios to provide necessary decision making tools. The final policies have to take into account climatic conditions, available means, and devices to propose necessary amendments and solutions. Project team involves groups from different fields that cover various aspects of adaptation measures including economic analyses, policy making processes, education and dissemination to the public. The presented paper deals with the part of activities which are focused on modelling of adaptation measures and climatic impacts for the city of Prague. These activities include assessment of energy balance of city, in terms of interactions of solar radiation, atmosphere and urban environment. Urban environment includes not only buildings, street surfaces and vegetation, but also the processes having impact on energy balance such as the traffic, air conditioning and industry that produce anthropogenic heat which can play a role for example in summer heat waves. The ultimate goal is to assess the impact of different adaptation measures on citizens who live in environmental conditions of growing effect of urban heat island. Thus the connection between objective meteorological variables and subjective biological indices has to be investigated. The concept of Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) is adopted. In comparison to single values of air temperature, air humidity, global horizontal irradiance, wind speed, and other meteorological indexes, concept of PET has added value in determining the value of important biometeorological index in.

On the Comparison of Nesting of Lagrangian Air-Pollution Model Smog to Numerical Weather Prediction Model ETA and Eulerian CTM CAMX to NWP Model MM5: Ozone Episode Simulation

711 The spatial distribution of air pollution on the local scale of parts of the territory in Czech Republic is simulated by means of Charles University Lagrangian puff model SMOG nested in NWP model ETA. The results are used for the assessment of the concentration fields of ozone, nitrogen oxides and other ozone precursors. A current improved version of the model based on Bednar et al. (2001) covers up to 18 groups of basic compounds and it is based on trajectory computation and puff interaction both by means of Gaussian diffusion, mixing and chemical reactions of basic species. Results of summer photochemical smog episode simulations are compared to results obtained by another couple adopted in the framework of the national project as a basis for further development of data assimilation techniques, Eulerian CTM CAMx nested in NWP model MM5. There are measured data from field campaigns for some episodes as well as air-quality monitoring station data available for comparison of model results with reality. Usually, there is a problem with emission data for the simulations and definitely they are far from actual instantaneous data. Both the couples have rather older databases of emissions available with many uncertainities, for

Statistical Modeling for Improvement of Numerical-Model-Based Solar Radiation Forecasts

We first analyze some features of numerical weather predictions (NWP) for global solar radiation and notice that they are undersmooth. This finding opens a way to improvements via various smoothing strategies. Then we introduce a statistical modeling framework based on modern semiparametric regression. We use a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model output as one of the inputs for our statistical model. The statistical model is build on the modern regression formalism, utilizing nonparametric B-splines for nonlinear parts whose exact shape is unknown a priori (apart from physically motivated smoothness). Then we illustrate its abilities for systematic development of strategies for NWP calibration and further development. The results are useful both for practical forecasting and as a source of feedback for NWP modelers.