On the parameterisation of the urban atmospheric sublayer in meteorological models

The increased resolution of numerical weather prediction models allows nowadays addressing more specifically urban meteorology and air pollution processes and forecasts. This has triggered new interest in modelling and describing experimentally the specific features and processes of urban areas. Recent developments and results performed within the EU-funded project FUMAPEX on integrated systems for forecasting urban meteorology and air pollution are reported here. Issues of optimum resolution, parameterising urban roughness and surface exchange fluxes and the role of the urban soil layers are addressed with advanced meso- or sub-meso meteorological models. Recommendations, especially with respect to advanced urban air quality forecasting and information systems, are given together with an assessment of the needed further research and data.