Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute

Air quality modelling tools implemented in Slovakia

The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) is an expert institute of the Ministry of the Environment in the areas of meteorology, air quality and hydrology.   The Air Quality Department operate the Slovak air quality monitoring network, perform air quality modelling assessments in support of national air quality management programmes and EU air quality directives, and conduct various air quality analyses and studies.

As part of a national programme to complement their existing air quality modelling capabilities SHMU contracted VITO to configure and implement their ATMOSYS multi-scale modelling system at their facility in Bratislava.  The key objectives were to customize and implement the following ATMOSYS services:

• An operational air quality service, providing near real time and forecasted pollutant maps for informing the general public on the air quality and alerting the winter smog warning system,
• The ATMO-Street high resolution mapping service for air quality mapping, analyses and source apportionment for supporting the preparation of air quality plans and reporting on air quality to national and EU stakeholders. 
• ATMO-Plan to harmonise and streamline air quality assessments carried out by consultants as part of Slovak Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations.