# Soil initialization for NH3-bidirectional scheme in CMAQv5.2

**URL:** <https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/soil-initialization-for-nh3-bidirectional-scheme-in-cmaqv5-2/844>\
**Category:** Ancillary Inputs\
**Created:** [July 25, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/soil-initialization-for-nh3-bidirectional-scheme-in-cmaqv5-2/844 "2019-07-25T19:42:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![skunwar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@skunwar](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/skunwar)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/soil-initialization-for-nh3-bidirectional-scheme-in-cmaqv5-2/844/1 "2019-07-25T19:42:05Z")

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Hi @lizadams and @bbaek, I wanted to use the NH3 bidirectional scheme in CMAQv5.2.1 but it looks like CMAQ asks for initial soil NH3 concentration file (from EPIC I suppose) in order to proceed. I was wondering if you had such file for the CONUS domain 12km grid? I couldn’t find any in the CMAS Warehouse, but if I have missed it somehow, please point me to the right location. Thank you!

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**Author:** ![lizadams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lizadams](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/lizadams)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/soil-initialization-for-nh3-bidirectional-scheme-in-cmaqv5-2/844/2 "2019-09-05T16:46:16Z")

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The latest release of CMAQv5.3 has the benchmark case for the South East Domain that includes the initial soil NH3 concentration file.

The data that you need for the 12 US1 grid for 2014 may be available on this google drive.  
[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1McKK3Z8866qwwWqjABp6moGLIVpHRcg0?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1McKK3Z8866qwwWqjABp6moGLIVpHRcg0?usp=sharing)