Digital Model to Assess Mountain Air Quality in Kislovodsk
Researchers find that mountains act as a natural atmospheric barrier, shaping pollution patterns
Researchers at the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences are using digital tools to monitor environmental conditions in Kislovodsk, according to a report citing the institute’s press service.
The team has developed a virtual twin of the resort city’s atmosphere, enabling more precise assessment of air quality and helping design measures to improve it. The study shows that modern modeling tools remain effective even in complex mountainous terrain.
Mountains as a Natural Filter
Terrain accounts for between 20% and 50% of pollution levels, with mountains acting as a natural barrier – trapping pollutants in some areas while dispersing them in others. By comparison, standard estimates based on vehicle emissions alone are less precise. The new tool is now expected to be used in urban planning.
The researchers relied on the WRF-Chimere modeling suite, designed to analyze chemical and transport processes in complex landscapes.
Russia is also developing digital twins of major rivers and carbon testing sites to forecast changes in riverbeds and ecosystems.
