scholarly journals Classification of Weather Patterns and Associated Trajectories of High-Ozone Episodes in the Houston–Galveston–Brazoria Area during the 2005/06 TexAQS-II

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fong Ngan ◽  
Daewon Byun

Abstract The 850-hPa synoptic flow patterns over eastern Texas and adjacent states during the 2005/06 Second Texas Air Quality Studies (TexAQS-II) period were classified into six groups using a two-stage clustering method. This study identifies synoptic weather patterns that are conducive to creating high-ozone events and reveals potential emission source regions leading to ozone exceedances through backward trajectory analysis. Clusters with dominant southerly synoptic flows and higher average wind speeds (C1 and C2 clusters) were related to low mean daytime ozone levels. Easterly (C3) and northerly (C5) clusters showed a higher probability to exceed the 8-h ozone standard than the other clusters. The dry and sunny postfrontal days with weak northerly or easterly weather patterns were often associated with ozone exceedances in the Houston–Galveston–Brazoria (HGB) area during September 2006. The majority of backward trajectories on ozone episode days were from the east, which brought polluted air from the Houston Ship Channel resulting in high ozone in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. The shifting trajectories of the C3 and C5 weather patterns were associated with surface wind turning from weak northerly to southeasterly/southerly because of the development of bay/sea breeze. Pollutants were shifting inside the metropolitan area and high ozone built up in the afternoon or early evening. A small portion of trajectories of C3 and C5 that caused high ozone passed over a short distance from the south of Houston, picking up emissions from the industries along the coast.

2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 942-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zewdu T. Segele ◽  
David J. Stensrud ◽  
Ian C. Ratcliffe ◽  
Geoffrey M. Henebry

Severe thunderstorms developed on 20 June 1997 and produced heavy precipitation, damaging winds, and large hail over two swaths in southeastern South Dakota. Calculations of fractional vegetation coverage (scaled from 0 to 1) based upon composite satellite data indicate that, within the hailstreak region, vegetation coverage decreased from 0.50 to near 0.25 owing to the damaging effects of hail on the growing vegetation. The northern edge of the larger hailstreak was located a few kilometers south of Chamberlain, South Dakota, a National Weather Service surface observation site. Hourly observations from Chamberlain and several nearby surface sites in South Dakota are averaged over 7 days both before and after this hail event. These observations illustrate that the late-afternoon (nighttime) temperatures are 2°C higher (2°C lower) near the hailstreak after the event than before the event. Similarly, daily average dewpoint temperatures after the event are 2.6°C lower near the hailstreak. These changes are consistent with the influences of a recently devegetated zone on changes to the surface energy budget. To explore how these hailstreaks further affected the evolution of the planetary boundary layer in this region, two model simulations are performed using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5). In the control run, climatology is used for the land surface characteristics, and hence the simulation is independent of the hailstreaks. In the hailstreak simulation (HSS), the fractional vegetation coverage and soil moisture in the hailstreak regions are modified to reflect the likely conditions within the hailstreaks. Two different days are simulated: one with low surface wind speeds and one with stronger surface wind speeds. For the low surface wind speed case, the HSS simulation produces a sea-breeze-like circulation in the boundary layer by midmorning. For the stronger surface wind speed case, this sea-breeze-like circulation does not develop in the HSS, but the simulated low-level temperatures are modified over a larger area. These results suggest that to capture and reasonably simulate the evolution of boundary layer structures, there is a need for routine daily updates of land surface information. Hailstreaks also are important to consider in the future as the focus for observational studies on nonclassical mesoscale circulations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 2437-2452
Author(s):  
M. Katurji ◽  
B. Khan ◽  
M. Sprenger ◽  
R. Datta ◽  
K. Joy ◽  
...  

AbstractMeteorological connectivity between biological hot spots of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) of Antarctica is thought to play a role in species distribution and abundance through the aeolian transport of bioaerosols. Understanding the potential role of such meteorological connectivity requires an understanding of near-surface wind flow within and between valley airsheds. To address this, we applied Lagrangian wind trajectory modeling to mesoscale (spatial resolution of ~1 km) weather model output to predict connectivity pathways, focusing on regions of high biodiversity. Our models produce maps of a likelihood metric of wind connectivity that demonstrate the synoptic and mesoscale dependence of connections between local, near-local, and nonlocal areas on wind transport, modulated by synoptic weather and topographic forcing. These connectivity areas can have spatial trends modulated by the synoptic weather patterns and locally induced topographically forced winds. This method is transferrable to other regions of Antarctica for broader terrestrial, coastal, and offshore ecological connectivity research. Also, our analysis and methods can inform better placement of aeolian dust and bioaerosol samplers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, provide preliminary guidelines behind the meteorological controls of sediment transport and smaller particle distribution, and present quantifiable knowledge informing new hypotheses around the potential of wind acting as a physical driver for biological connectivity in the MDVs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 1105-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aizhong Hou ◽  
Guangheng Ni ◽  
Hanbo Yang ◽  
Zhidong Lei

AbstractA decline of surface wind speed (wind stilling) has been observed in many regions of the world. The greater Beijing metropolitan area in China is taken as an example for analyzing the urbanization impact on wind stilling. This study set up five scenarios with different urbanization ratios and the same atmospheric forces and then simulated wind speed under each scenario using the next-generation Weather Research and Forecasting model. The results suggest that the correspondence between the regional average wind speed ratio of decrease Δu and the ratio of urbanized area δurban (%) fits the relation in summer and in winter. During the period 1961–2008, the ratio of urbanized area over the greater Beijing metropolitan area increased from 1.3% to 11.9%, which is speculated as the cause of a 0.4 m s−1 decline in regional average wind speed and the contributor to about 35% wind stilling.


Author(s):  
S. G. Ignatiev ◽  
S. V. Kiseleva

Optimization of the autonomous wind-diesel plants composition and of their power for guaranteed energy supply, despite the long history of research, the diversity of approaches and methods, is an urgent problem. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the wind energy characteristics is proposed to shape an autonomous power system for a guaranteed power supply with predominance wind energy. The analysis was carried out on the basis of wind speed measurements in the south of the European part of Russia during 8 months at different heights with a discreteness of 10 minutes. As a result, we have obtained a sequence of average daily wind speeds and the sequences constructed by arbitrary variations in the distribution of average daily wind speeds in this interval. These sequences have been used to calculate energy balances in systems (wind turbines + diesel generator + consumer with constant and limited daily energy demand) and (wind turbines + diesel generator + consumer with constant and limited daily energy demand + energy storage). In order to maximize the use of wind energy, the wind turbine integrally for the period in question is assumed to produce the required amount of energy. For the generality of consideration, we have introduced the relative values of the required energy, relative energy produced by the wind turbine and the diesel generator and relative storage capacity by normalizing them to the swept area of the wind wheel. The paper shows the effect of the average wind speed over the period on the energy characteristics of the system (wind turbine + diesel generator + consumer). It was found that the wind turbine energy produced, wind turbine energy used by the consumer, fuel consumption, and fuel economy depend (close to cubic dependence) upon the specified average wind speed. It was found that, for the same system with a limited amount of required energy and high average wind speed over the period, the wind turbines with lower generator power and smaller wind wheel radius use wind energy more efficiently than the wind turbines with higher generator power and larger wind wheel radius at less average wind speed. For the system (wind turbine + diesel generator + energy storage + consumer) with increasing average speed for a given amount of energy required, which in general is covered by the energy production of wind turbines for the period, the maximum size capacity of the storage device decreases. With decreasing the energy storage capacity, the influence of the random nature of the change in wind speed decreases, and at some values of the relative capacity, it can be neglected.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2796
Author(s):  
Andrzej Osuch ◽  
Ewa Osuch ◽  
Stanisław Podsiadłowski ◽  
Piotr Rybacki

In the introduction to this paper, the characteristics of Góreckie lake and the construction and operation of the wind-driven pulverizing aerator are presented. The purpose of this manuscript is to determine the efficiency of the pulverizing aerator unit in the windy conditions of Góreckie Lake. The efficiency of the pulverization aerator depends on the wind conditions at the lake. It was necessary to conduct thorough research to determine the efficiency of water flow through the pulverization segment (water pump). It was necessary to determine the rotational speed of the paddle wheel, which depended on the average wind speed. Throughout the research period, measurements of hourly average wind speed were carried out. It was possible to determine the efficiency of the machine by developing a dedicated mathematical model. The latest method was used in the research, consisting of determining the theoretical volumetric flow rates of water in the pulverizing aerator unit, based on average hourly wind speeds. Pulverization efficiency under the conditions of Góreckie Lake was determined based on 6600 average wind speeds for spring, summer and autumn, 2018. Based on the model, the theoretical efficiency of the machine was calculated, which, under the conditions of Góreckie Lake, amounted to 75,000 m3 per year.


1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 866-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Franchito ◽  
V. B. Rao ◽  
J. L. Stech ◽  
J. A. Lorenzzetti

Abstract. The effect of coastal upwelling on sea-breeze circulation in Cabo Frio (Brazil) and the feedback of sea-breeze on the upwelling signal in this region are investigated. In order to study the effect of coastal upwelling on sea-breeze a non-linear, three-dimensional, primitive equation atmospheric model is employed. The model considers only dry air and employs boundary layer formulation. The surface temperature is determined by a forcing function applied to the Earth's surface. In order to investigate the seasonal variations of the circulation, numerical experiments considering three-month means are conducted: January-February-March (JFM), April-May-June (AMJ), July-August-September (JAS) and October-November-December (OND). The model results show that the sea-breeze is most intense near the coast at all the seasons. The sea-breeze is stronger in OND and JFM, when the upwelling occurs, and weaker in AMJ and JAS, when there is no upwelling. Numerical simulations also show that when the upwelling occurs the sea-breeze develops and attains maximum intensity earlier than when it does not occur. Observations show a similar behavior. In order to verify the effect of the sea-breeze surface wind on the upwelling, a two-layer finite element ocean model is also implemented. The results of simulations using this model, forced by the wind generated in the sea-breeze model, show that the sea-breeze effectively enhances the upwelling signal.Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (mesoscale meteorology; ocean-atmosphere interactions) · Oceanography (numerical modeling)


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Miller ◽  
Michael Gibbons ◽  
Kyle Beatty ◽  
Auguste Boissonnade

Abstract In this study the impacts of the topography of Bermuda on the damage patterns observed following the passage of Hurricane Fabian over the island on 5 September 2003 are considered. Using a linearized model of atmospheric boundary layer flow over low-slope topography that also incorporates a model for changes of surface roughness, sets of directionally dependent wind speed adjustment factors were calculated for the island of Bermuda. These factors were then used in combination with a time-stepping model for the open water wind field of Hurricane Fabian derived from the Hurricane Research Division Real-Time Hurricane Wind Analysis System (H*Wind) surface wind analyses to calculate the maximum 1-min mean wind speed at locations across the island for the following conditions: open water, roughness changes only, and topography and roughness changes combined. Comparison of the modeled 1-min mean wind speeds and directions with observations from a site on the southeast coast of Bermuda showed good agreement between the two sets of values. Maximum open water wind speeds across the entire island showed very little variation and were of category 2 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale. While the effects of surface roughness changes on the modeled wind speeds showed very little correlation with the observed damage, the effect of the underlying topography led to maximum modeled wind speeds of category 4 strength being reached in highly localized areas on the island. Furthermore, the observed damage was found to be very well correlated with these regions of topographically enhanced wind speeds, with a very clear trend of increasing damage with increasing wind speeds.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Manning ◽  
Elizabeth Kendon ◽  
Hayley Fowler ◽  
Nigel Roberts ◽  
Segolene Berthou ◽  
...  

<p>Extra-tropical windstorms are one of the costliest natural hazards affecting Europe, and windstorms that develop a phenomenon known as a sting-jet account for some of the most damaging storms. A sting-jet (SJ) is a mesoscale core of high wind speeds that occurs in particular types of cyclones, specifically Shapiro-Keyser (SK) cyclones, and can produce extremely damaging surface wind gusts. High-resolution climate models are required to adequately model SJs and so it is difficult to gauge their contribution to current and future wind risk. In this study, we develop a low-cost methodology to automate the detection of sting jets, using the characteristic warm seclusion of SK cyclones and the slantwise descent of high wind speeds, within pan-European 2.2km convection-permitting climate model (CPM) simulations. Following this, we quantify the contribution of such storms to wind risk in Northern Europe in current and future climate simulations, and secondly assess the added value offered by the CPM compared to a traditional coarse-resolution climate model. This presentation will give an overview of the developed methods and the results of our analysis.</p><p>Comparing with observations, we find that the representation of wind gusts is improved in the CPM compared to ERA-Interim reanalysis data. Storm severity metrics indicate that SK cyclones account for the majority of the most damaging windstorms. The future simulation produces a large increase (>100%) in the number of storms exceeding high thresholds of the storm metric, with a large contribution to this change (40%) coming from windstorms in which a sting-jet is detected. Finally, we see a systematic underestimation in the GCM compared to the CPM in the frequency of extreme wind speeds at 850hPa in the cold sector of cyclones, likely related to better representation of sting-jets and the cold conveyor belt in the CPM. This underestimation is between 20-40% and increases with increasing wind speed above 35m/s. We conclude that the CPM adds value in the representation of severe surface wind gusts, providing more reliable future projections and improved input for impact models.</p>


Author(s):  
Chanil Park ◽  
Seok-Woo Son ◽  
Joowan Kim ◽  
Eun-Chul Chang ◽  
Jung-Hoon Kim ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study identifies diverse synoptic weather patterns of warm-season heavy rainfall events (HREs) in South Korea. The HREs not directly connected to tropical cyclones (TCs) (81.1%) are typically associated with a midlatitude cyclone from eastern China, the expanded North Pacific high and strong southwesterly moisture transport in between. They are frequent both in the first (early summer) and second rainy periods (late summer) with impacts on the south coast and west of the mountainous region. In contrast, the HREs resulting from TCs (18.9%) are caused by the synergetic interaction between the TC and meandering midlatitude flow, especially in the second rainy period. The strong south-southeasterly moisture transport makes the southern and eastern coastal regions prone to the TC-driven HREs. By applying a self-organizing map algorithm to the non-TC HREs, their surface weather patterns are further classified into six clusters. Clusters 1 and 3 exhibit frontal boundary between the low and high with differing relative strengths. Clusters 2 and 5 feature an extratropical cyclone migrating from eastern China under different background sea-level pressure patterns. Cluster 4 is characterized by the expanded North Pacific high with no organized negative sea-level pressure anomaly, and cluster 6 displays a development of a moisture pathway between the continental and oceanic highs. Each cluster exhibits a distinct spatio-temporal occurrence distribution. The result provides useful guidance for predicting the HREs by depicting important factors to be differently considered depending on their synoptic categorization.


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