Urban Airshed Model (UAM): Architecture

The UAM Modeling System consists of the core model (UAM), preprocessors for control, meteorology, initial/boundary conditions, the Emissions Preprocessor System (EPS), the Diagnostic Wind Model (DWM), and the ROM-UAM Interface Program System.

The graphic at right (click to see full-sized) shows a schematic of the general UAM model. Notice that there are three parts: the general UAM components a diagnostic wind model (DWM) an emissions inventory pre-processor There is also an interface to the Regional Oxidant Model (ROM). Those components are indicated on the chart with dotted lines. The boxes with the solid lines represent the various pre-processors in UAM, such as temperature, mixing heights, terrain, boundary conditions, and chemical parameters.

You should recall from the earlier general reading on air quality models the discussion regarding run-times for the UAM, comparing the runtimes across several platforms. Needless to say, as computers become faster and more powerful, running complex models such as UAM on desktop computers will be commonplace.

An excerpt from a study conducted by the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG, 1999) describes some of the interesting logistical issues with UAM-V. We have included this optional reading to help the reader develop a sense of how some of the photochemical air quality models relate to each other.