Impact of Wildfires on Meteorology and Air Quality (PM_2.5 and O₃) over Western United States during September 2017

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript (atmosphere-1550351) by Sharma et al. reports the impact of wildfires on air quality over Western United States during the September 2017 by using Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem).The paper has scientific merit and presents novel data, however, there are some minor gaps and shortcomings which need to be addressed to make the paper more robust and scientifically rounded before publication in the Atmosphere.

 General comments:

Sub-section 2.1. Model domain

The WRF model tar file has been updated to Version 3.9.1.1 on August 28, 2017 while the Version 3.9.1 is from August 17, 2017.

Why didn't the authors use the latest version? what is the difference between the two versions? It is necessary to deepen this part/section. Also insert more references on this model and the link and data from where the version was downloaded.

Sub-section 2.6. Observational datasets for model evaluation

A more detailed and complete description should be carried out about meteorological and pollutant (PM and O₃) measurement technique and monitoring stations, including the kind and characteristics of the sampling technique, sampling times/frequencies, calibration procedures, control and check quality of all data set, detection limits, kind and characteristics of the monitoring stations, which and how many stations, etc.

Sub-section 3.2.1. Impact on surface shortwave radiation and meteorology

It is necessary to insert some references on the reduction of PBLH and the contribution to increase in PM2.5 and Ozone concentrations during wildfire events such as impact on changes cloud cover/ cloud optical depth.

Sub-section 3.2.2. Impact on clouds, droplet number concentration and precipitation

As above, insert some references on impact the wildfire event on clouds, droplet number concentration and precipitation.

Sub-section 3.2.4. Impact on air quality: PM_2.5 and Ozone

There are plenty of publications discussing the effects/impacts of the wildfires on  the air quality (PM and Ozone) that has not been cited and seems not to have been reviewed. These studies provide insight into the contributions of this source to observed urban and nor urban pollution. More detailed information on environmental problems caused by wildfire events is necessary. Also the impact of reduction of PBLH on air quality should be referenced and deeper.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The overall presentation of the manuscript is satisfactory and is suitable for its possible publication in Atmosphere MDPI after incorporating some corrections as described below.

1. Topic of the manuscript is not clear.
2. Abstract should have a conclusion of the study.
3. Add more on the basic of the problem in the introduction with recent research publications. The comparative study will be more useful.
4. Please specify “air quality”. Which parameters used for this study and which were not taken for this study and why??
5. Data sources are not clear. Explain in more details.
6. Discus merits and limitations of this work.
7. Over all English usage needs to be corrected…
8. Cross check all references in lit and text and also check reference styling.
9. I suggest the author to demonstrate what does the paper add to the current literature? and what new knowledge is added by this study? Literature review part is need to be updated.
10. Authors may add latest reference

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf