Improvement of Austrian air quality services by using CAMS data

Air quality forecasting in Austria is among the responsibilities of GeoSphere Austria. The European Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides products and services that support these tasks. In this project, the European services are used to expand or to improve specific national services.

Exposure to high concentrations of air pollutants is a severe risk for health. Therefore, national and international air quality objectives target the exposure of air pollutants to avoid, prevent, and reduce harmful effects of ambient air pollution on human health. Observed concentration levels in Austria exceed some of specified limit values valid from 2030 onwards (EU 2024/2881) not only in several cities but also in rural regions. It requires a better understanding of the spatio-temporal variability of air pollution in Austria to implement adequate measures.

As the national weather service of Austria, GeoSphere Austria is responsible for air quality modelling and forecasting as well as for supporting authorities at national and regional level in assessing air quality. Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides data products as well as policy tools that help achieving these tasks. The Austrian CAMS National Collaboration Programme (NCP) focuses on bridging the gap between these European services and the specific national needs.

The work within the Austrian national collaboration program focuses on:

• Reporting: Use of CAMS European air quality forecasts and reanalyses for Austrian air quality assessment and management required by the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD, EU 2024/2881). The source attribution of air pollutants and their reduction potential are analysed using CAMS services.
• Downscaling: Use of CAMS European air quality forecasts and operational calculation of bias-corrected air pollutant concentrations at selected Austrian measurement sites. These high-quality short-term forecasts of air pollution concentration levels can be used to warn the public about potential episodes and threshold exceedances.
• Emissions: Merge of the CAMS European anthropogenic emission inventory and emissions inventories from federal provinces to create an up-to-date high-resolved emission inventory.
• Communication and user outreach: Organisation of two dedicated stakeholder meetings as well as information of the public through existing channels to increase awareness and understanding of CAMS products and services.