Identification

Title

MALTA: A zonally averaged global atmospheric transport model for long-lived trace gases

Abstract

We present a two-dimensional, zonally averaged global model of atmospheric transport named MALTA: Model of Averaged in Longitude Transport in the Atmosphere. It aims to be accessible to a broad community of users, with the primary function of quantifying emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances. The model transport is derived from meteorological reanalysis data and flux-gradient experiments using a three-dimensional transport model. Atmospheric sinks are prescribed loss frequency fields. The zonally averaged model simulates important large-scale transport features such as the influence on trace gas concentrations of the quasi-biennial oscillation and variations in inter-hemispheric transport rates. Stratosphere-troposphere exchange is comparable to a three-dimensional model and inter-hemispheric transport is faster by up to 0.3 years than typical transport times of three-dimensional models, depending on the metric used. Validation of the model shows that it can estimate emissions of CFC-11 from an incorrect a priori emissions field well using three-dimensional (3D) mole fraction fields generated using a different 3D model than which the flux gradient relationships were derived. The model is open source and is expected to be applicable to a wide range of studies requiring a fast, simple model of atmospheric transport and chemical processes for estimating associated emissions or mole fractions.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7df6wdr

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2024-05-01T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact