The Group Modeling of the Atmosphere and its Interfaces (GMAI) carries
out studies and generates products related to the atmosphere and its
interaction with the other components of the earth system. The adopted
methodology includes the development of numerical models that are run on
high performance computer systems and state-of-the-art parameterizations of
physical and biogeochemical processes, the treatment and analysis of direct
and remote sensing observations, and the assimilation of these data into the
numerical models.
From the numerical modeling point of view,
GMAI has been developing and
improving a number of models and parameterizations for studies related
to numerical weather and climate forecasting, air quality and chemical
composition of the atmosphere, and soil water storage. Various
GMAI models
are used operationally at
CPTEC/INPE, and other developments have been
implemented in US models (CAMx, GEOS-5, WRF-CHEM and FIM-CHEM).
In particular,
GMAI leads the development of the
CCATT-BRAMS (
Coupled
Chemistry-
Aerosol-
Tracer
Transport model to
BRAMS) model that
simulates emissions, transport, chemical reactivity and deposition of gases
and aerosols in the atmosphere.
CCATT-BRAMS is used on an operational
basis by CPTEC/INPE for air quality forecasting over South America as well
as for various studies of social and scientific interest.
GMAI maintains a complete meteorological and air quality monitoring station
and will also acquire observational data for studies with and validation of
numerical models. GMAI has access to two high performance clusters for its
numerical studies, the most recent of which includes 200 AMD/OPTERON
processor cores linked by an InfiniBand network.
Since 1999, GMAI members have published nearly 70 articles in scientific
journals and 140 works in conference proceedings. In addition to the scientific
contribution, the groupÕs operational focus offers support to public health,
economic, and social actions and policies related to the short and medium
term impacts of atmospheric pollutant emissions and transport.