The air quality four-panel chart

The need of specific set of forecast images for air quality forecasting with respect to numerical model output is discussed. A set of forecast images, displayed as a standard four panel chart of the chemical-transport model and its underlying meteorological model, can address the critical forecast issues for air quality. The critical forecast issues include, the forecast of the pollutant of interest, persistence of the pollutant, magnitude of expected photochemical activity, boundary layer depth and moisture gradients in the boundary layer. The panels allow forecasters to effectively add expert analysis to the forecast, as well as providing a check on the forecast model consistency.