Seyed Mohammad TAGHAVI
CEREA /ENPC
6-8 avenue Blaise Pascal
Cite Descartes - Champs / Marne
77455 Marne la Vallee Cedex 2
France
(: (0033) 164152160
Fax: (0033) 164152170
E-Mail: taghavi@cerea.enpc.fr
Web: http://www.enpc.fr/cerea/HomePages/taghavi
Qualification
2006-2007
Postdoctoral researcher,
Waterloo Center for Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
2003-2005
Postdoctoral researcher, Centre
d'Enseignement et de Recherche en Environnement Atmosphérique, Paris, France.
2000-2003
Ph.D. in
atmospheric physics, Laboratory of meteorology physic (LaMP),
Thesis
title: « Study of air pollution in urban
and peri-urban areas during the ESCOMPTE campaign
using mesoscale modeling. Impact of
dynamics and emission inventories ».
Supervisor:
Professor Sylvie CAUTENET
1994-1997
M.Sc., Physics, Amir Kabir university of
Technology (Teheran Polytechnic), Teheran, Iran.
1990-1994
B.Sc.,
Applied physics, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.
Additional training
September-Octobre 2004
French-German
Summer School in “Aerosols, Heterogeneous chemistry and Climate”,
August-September
2002
Summer school in Atmospheric modeling, including courses in Mesoscale Modeling, Atmospheric pollution modeling,
convection, and analysis of variability, and data assimilation. Ecole Prédoctorale
de Physique des Houches, France.
February
2002
Training course for Programming of parallel computers.
Professional Experience
Teaching activities:
2002-2003
Teacher of applied physics, Emmanuel Chabrier
Highschool, Yissingeaux
(43), France.
2002-2003
Lecturer, Auvergne University,
Clermont-Ferrand, France.
2002-2003
Guardianship, Blaise Pascal University,
Clermont-Ferrand, France.
2001
Lecturer, Blaise Pascal
University, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
1995-1999
Lecturer, Roodehen University, Roodehen, Iran.
1995-1997
Assistant Lecturer, Amir Kabir University of Technology (Teheran Polytechnic),
Teheran, Iran.
Research activities:
Post-doctoral
research:
The
impact of tropospheric aerosol depends strongly on
the aerosol size/composition distribution. Therefore, to quantify and
understand these impacts, the composition and size distribution of the aerosol
must be known. I am carrying out a modeling study on the aerosol
size/composition distribution over an urban/industrial area.
Doctoral
Research:
Subject
of my Ph.D.: Study of air pollution in urban and peri-urban
areas during the ESCOMPTE campaign using mesoscale
modeling. Impact of dynamics and emission inventories
Key
words:
Atmospheric
modeling at meso-scale, land-surface
parameterization, study of dynamic processes, coupling of meteorological and
chemical models, gas phase photochemistry for polluted areas.
Set
of themes:
Since the
last century, the composition of the atmosphere has changed considerably due to
human activities. One change is the high level of ozone concentrations in polluted
areas. In France, there have been high ozone concentrations, particularly in
the Marseilles area where there are large industrial regions (refineries around
the pond of Berre) and much road traffic. In order to
better understand air pollution, the ESCOMPTE campaign (June-July 2001) was
carried out in southeastern France to address the following topics:
What are the respective roles of various
dynamic and chemical mechanisms on the occurrence of pollution episodes?
How should urban emissions be taken into
account in regional and global models?
Can one develop an operational forecast of
pollution episodes?
Which strategy is best to reduce the
concentration of photo-oxidants and particles?
Development of chemistry-transport models.
The
principal components contributing to ozone formation in the troposphere are the
emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO+NO2) and VOCs (Volatile Organic compounds). There are two principal
sources of VOCs: anthropogenic sources and biogenic
emissions. Chemical-transport models are very powerful tools which make it
possible to better understand the role of the dynamic and photochemical
processes which lead to pollution episodes. The coupling between meteorological
and chemical models is associated with two different concepts: on-line coupling
between an explicit meso-meteorological model and a
chemical condensed model or an off-line coupling between a complex chemical
model and hourly dynamic data. In the atmosphere there are more than 3000
different chemical species. The chemical mechanism for oxidation of organics in
the atmosphere includes hundreds of reactions. Consequently, the number of
reactions quickly becomes enormous when one wants to consider a mixture of VOC-NOx producing many organic species. To model atmospheric
chemistry, one is obliged to use a condensed chemical model in order to obtain
a reasonable time of execution. Several levels of chemistry can be taken into
account according to whether one chooses the on-line or off-line option.
Considering that the dynamic processes are essential to simulate the
redistribution of chemical species, we chose option 1: on-line coupling between
a meso-meteorological and condensed chemical model.
Methodology
The
redistribution of trace gases (particularly ozone) in the troposphere as well
as the mechanisms controlling their space and temporal distribution was studied
using atmospheric and chemical modeling. For this, I worked on the coupling of
the meteorological model RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) in a parallel
version with the chemistry model, MOCA 2.2: this coupling is called RAMS_Chemistry. The on-line coupling enables us to have a
very good definition of the transport of the pollutants, because the processes
of advection, difffusion, and turbulence are calculated
at each time step (a few tens of seconds maximum). I also coupled deposition
and emissions models. Photochemical rate constants were determined by the TUV (Tropospheric Ultraviolet & Visible Model Radiation)
model off line. To simulate the meteorological fields, two nested grids were
defined: one, very fine, on the zone of study and a second coarser one to take
into account the impact of emission sources close to the cities of Lyon,
Barcelona, and Turin. This chemistry-transport coupling at the regional scale
enabled us to simulate the atmospheric state in a realistic way and thus, to
understand and improve the way dynamic and chemical mechanisms important in gas
phase redistribution are taken into account. The use of the model in parallel
mode enables us to save time (1h30 for one day of simulation in parallel mode
instead of 18h in single processor mode). This model can be used to forecast
the peaks of pollution.
Results:
My thesis
fit within the framework of the ESCOMPTE pre-campaign and full campaign (Cros et al, 2004) which took place between June and July
2000 and 2001. Validation of model: The model RAMS-Chemistry had already been
validated (Poulet et al, 2001) for episodes of
vegetation fires with an average scale (grid of 20km) in Central Africa. Within
this study, it was tested for peri-urban and urban
areas on a small scale (grid of 3km). First, the meteorological fields were
validated by a comparison with measurements (surface stations, lidar, sodar, soundings, and
planes). In order to obtain satisfactory numerical results, the land-surface
parameterizations were studied, several parameter changes were
made, and sensitivity tests were performed (impact of Soil moisture on the
temperature of surface; good description of topography to simulate mountains
and valleys winds). This part enabled me to better understand in detail the
structure of a meteorological model. These numerical results were obtained with
a good agreement within a meteorological framework (Taghavi et al, 2003). Then,
I examined the dispersion of the chemical species. First, the CO dispersion (an
inert gas) makes it possible to see the response of the model to dynamics.
This trace gas agreed with plane measurements. Then to validate the MOCA
2.2 chemistry model, online results were compared with observations (surface
station, lidar, soundings and planes). The results
were satisfactory, especially with the new emission inventory (Taghavi et al,
2004). To check the impact of dynamics, various meteorological situations were
simulated, in particular the case of IOP2a (mistral associated with light sea
breeze) and IOP2b (strong sea breeze which penetrated approximately 40 km
inside the continent). Moreover, two emissions inventories were used: the first
obtained from the GENEMIS database (1994) and the other calculated during the
ESCOMPTE campaign (François et al, 2004) with a resolution of one km. The
RAMS-Chemistry model, although containing a very condensed chemical model (29
species) was able to estimate the ozone concentrations in the industrial and
urban areas. Dynamics play the most important role in the formation of ozone
plumes, but to have a good local definition of ozone concentrations, a fine
emission inventory is essential (Taghavi et al, 2004). With these simulations, one
can observe the channeling of the Rhone valley associated with pollutant
transport from the Lyons area which sometimes causes an ozone pollution peak at
Avignon (the northern part of ESCOMPTE). This result
was obtained by using nested grids (Taghavi et al., 2003).
Publications and communications
Taghavi, M., Sloan,
J., Nikzad, S., Zhuanshi,
H., Arteta, J., Meng, F.,
Diagnostic Study on Particulate Matter Predictions of
CMAQ-MADRID in the Southern Ontario, 6th Annual CMAS Conference,
October 1-3, 2007, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Arteta, J., Cautenet,
S., Taghavi, M., Audiffren, N., Impact of two chemistry
mechanisms fully coupled with mesoscale model on the
atmospheric pollutants distribution, Atmos. Envir.,40 (40), 7983-8001, 2006.
Forêt, G.,
Flamant, C., Cautenet, S., Pelon, J., Minvielle,
F., Taghavi, M., Chazette, P., The
structure of the haze plume over the
Taghavi
M., Fahey, K., Foudhil, H., Sportisse,
B.: Modeling aerosol with the POLAIR3D/SIREAM
model on the mesoscale over un
urban area in south-eastern
Taghavi, M., Musson-Genon L., Impact
of thermal power plant emissions in Marseille, Power-Gen
Europe Conference, 28-30 June 2005,
Taghavi, M., Lacour, S., Issartel
J.-P., Estimation
of CO emission sources in southern France using inverse modeling (application on ESCOMPTE campaign), European Geosciences
Union, 24-29 April 2005, Vienna, Austria.
Taghavi, M., Musson-Genon, L., Sportisse, B.: Intermediate
species: does chemistry work in a same way in all models?,
The Sixth ESCOMPTE Workshop, 2-4 February 2005,
Taghavi, M., Musson-Genon, L., Sportisse, B.:
Evaluation and model/model comparisons for OH, HO2, H2O2, HNO3, RO2s, The
Second ESCOMPTE Modeling Workshop, 18-19 November
2004, Meteo France, Toulouse, France.
Taghavi M., Debry, E., Fahey, K., Foudhil,
H., Sportisse, B.:
Modeling aerosol with the Polair/Siream model on the meso
scale over un urban area in south-eastern
Taghavi
M., Musson-Genon, L., Sportisse,
B.: Modeling
study of photochemical air pollution over un urban
area in south eastern-France (ESCOMPTE campaign), 8th Scientific Conference of IGAC, 4-9 September 2004,
Taghavi
M. and Cautenet, S.: A modeling study of the meteorology and photochemical air
pollution over an urban area in south-eastern
Taghavi, M., Cautenet, S., Foret, G.: Simulation of ozone production in a complex circulation region
using nested grids, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4,
825–838, 2004.
Taghavi, M., Musson-Genon,
L., Sportisse, B.: Air
quality modeling in the region of Martigues
with the CTM POLAIR, Le printemps de
la recherche,
Taghavi, M., Musson-Genon,
L., Sportisse, B.: Modeling of an intensive observation
period using the POLAIR chemistry/transport model (Preliminary results), The First ESCOMPTE Modeling Workshop,
5-6 May 2004, Meteo
Taghavi,
M., Cautenet, S., Arteta,
J.: Impact of a high detailed
emission inventory on modeling accuracy, Atmospheric Research, 74, pp. 65–88,
2005.
Taghavi, M. and Cautenet, S.: A modeling investigation on role of dynamic on
pollutants redistribution and ozone production in troposphere (ESCOMPTE
campaign, FRANCE), The Third
regional Conference on Climate Change and The First National Conference On
Climate Change,21-17 April,2003, Esfahan,
Iran.
Taghavi
M., Cautenet, S., Arteta,
J.: Modelling of chemistry during ESCOMPTE (POI2a and POI2b):
comparisons with aircraft measurements and lidars, 5th ESCOMPTE Workshop, 26-28 May, 2003, Meteo France, Toulouse, France.
Taghavi
M. and Cautenet S.: Modeling of dynamics during ESCOMPTE: comparison with airborne
measurements and lidars, 5th ESCOMPTE
Workshop, 26-28 May, 2003, Meteo
Taghavi,
M. and Cautenet, S.: A modeling study of the meteorology and photochemical air
pollution over an urban area in south-eastern
Cautenet, S., Foret, G., Taghavi,
M., Audiffren, N., Poulet,
D., Bouo Bella, F.: Mesoscale
studies of the chemical species redistribution using RAMS, 5th RAMS Workshop
and Related Applications, 29 September - 3 October, 2002, Santorini,
Greece.
Taghavi, M., and Cautenet, S.: Study the role of dynamics on pollutants transport and
ozone production over an urban zone during intensive observation period (IOP2,
ESCOMPTE campaign), 5th RAMS Workshop and Related Applications, 29
September - 3 October, 2002, Santorini, Greece.
Taghavi,
M., and Cautenet, S.: Meso-scale
Modeling of the gaseous pollutants in an urban
region inside complex circulations. Comparison with airborne
measurements (ESCOMPTE campaign), 7th Scientific Conference of IGAC, 18-25
September, 2002, Crete, Greece.
Taghavi,
M. and Cautenet, S.: Transfer of pollutants from Lyon city through Rhone
valley during ESOMPTE campaign, ISS-2002, 28-30 June, 2002, Birmingham, U.K.
Taghavi,
M., Cautenet, S., Audiffren,
N.: Meso-scale simulation of the redistribution of gaseous
pollutants in urban region. Comparison with airborne
measurements (ESCOMPTE campaign), EGS XXVII General Assembly, 21 - 26
April, 2002, Nice, France.
Taghavi, M., Cautenet, S., Audiffren, N.: Résultats de modélisation
RAMS-CHIMIE pour la campagne ESCOMPTE (2001 : POI2a et POI2b),
comparaison avec Mesure des stations, 4th ESCOMPTE Workshop, 18-20
Mars, 2002, Marseille, France.
Taghavi, M., Cautenet, S., Audiffren, N.: Résultats préliminaires de modélisation en météorologie et
chimie de la campagne ESOMPTE (2001 :POI2a et POI2b), April 2002, Meteo
France, Toulouse, France.
Taghavi, M., Cautenet, S., Audiffren, N.: Modélisation RAMS pour la pre-campagne ESCOMPTE 2000, comparaison avec les mesures
aéroporté (avion, radiosondage), Ministère de l’environnement, 22-23 octobre, 2001, Paris, France.
Coll I., Buisson, E., Menut,
L., Cautenet, S., Taghavi, M., Toupance, G.: Comprehensive
study of ozone production in the ESCOMPTE domain: pre-modeling and intensive
observation period (IOP), XXVI General Assembly, 25-30 March, 2001, Nice,
France.
Taghavi, M., Cautenet, S., Audiffren, N.: Résultats de modélisation météorologique RAMS pour
la pre-campagne ESCOMPTE (2000:POI0), 15-16 April, 2001, Meteo
France, Toulouse, France.
AWARDS & HONORS
Best Honors Graduate Student, Faculty of Physic, Isfahan University of technology, Isfahan,
Iran, 1994.
Highest
Honors (rated first) in MSRTI competitive (entrance) examination in physic
group for Ph.D. program,
Registration
fee Grant: international global atmospheric
chemistry, for attendance at the 7th Scientific Conference of the International
Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project (IGAC),
Linguistics and computers
linguistics:
English: written, spoken
French: written, spoken
Persian: native language
Computer Science knowledge
Operating systems: UNIX, LINUX, WINDOWS
Programming: FORTRAN 77 and 90, TURBO PASCAL, C++
Software: Microsoft office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), LATEX
Graphics: Matlab, PV-WAVE, NCAR Graphics,
Vis5D, Grads, Pave
Interests
Travel, nature, music, cinema, and reading (Russian
literature).