Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Research Research In Action
Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) The EPA needs
detailed information about the concentrations of air pollutants
in a given area under almost any imaginable emissions or climate
scenario. There is also a need for decision support tools that
can be used to design emission control scenarios to help achieve
air quality standards. For more than a decade, the U.S. EPA’s
Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model has been a
powerful computational tool used by EPA and states for air
quality management. The National Weather Service uses the model
to produce daily U.S. forecasts for ozone air quality. CMAQ is
also used by states to assess implementation actions needed to
attain National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The system
simultaneously models multiple air pollutants, including ozone,
particulate matter, and a variety of air toxics to help
regulators determine the best air quality management scenarios
for their communities, states, and