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

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.

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Related Software #1 : JiaweiZhuang/xESMF: v0.3.0 Adding ESMF.LocStream capabilities

Related Software #2 : mrghg/py12box: v0.2.1

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Author Western, L. M.
Bachman, Scott
Montzka, S. A.
Rigby, M.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2024-05-01T00:00:00
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2025-07-10T20:02:22.085859
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:27198
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Western, L. M., Bachman, Scott, Montzka, S. A., Rigby, M.. (2024). MALTA: A zonally averaged global atmospheric transport model for long-lived trace gases. UCAR/NCAR - Library. https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7df6wdr. Accessed 09 August 2025.

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