scholarly journals Implications of Nonlocal Transport and Conditionally Averaged Statistics on Monin–Obukhov Similarity Theory and Townsend’s Attached Eddy Hypothesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 3403-3431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Li ◽  
Pierre Gentine ◽  
Juan Pedro Mellado ◽  
Kaighin A. McColl
Keyword(s):  
Similarity Theory ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Similarity Function ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Structure Detection ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Attached Eddies ◽  
The Impact

According to Townsend’s hypothesis, so-called wall-attached eddies are the main contributors to turbulent transport in the atmospheric surface layer (ASL). This is also one of the main assumptions of Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST). However, previous evidence seems to indicate that outer-scale eddies can impact the ASL, resulting in deviations from the classic MOST scaling. We conduct large-eddy simulations and direct numerical simulations of a dry convective boundary layer to investigate the impact of coherent structures on the ASL. A height-dependent passive tracer enables coherent structure detection and conditional analysis based on updrafts and subsidence. The MOST similarity functions computed from the simulation results indicate a larger deviation of the momentum similarity function ϕ m from classical scaling relationships compared to the temperature similarity function ϕ h. The conditional-averaged ϕ m for updrafts and subsidence are similar, indicating strong interactions between the inner and outer layers. However, ϕ h conditioned on subsidence follows the mixed-layer scaling, while its updraft counterpart is well predicted by MOST. Updrafts are the dominant contributors to the transport of momentum and temperature. Subsidence, which comprises eddies that originate from the outer layer, contributes increasingly to the transport of temperature with increasing instability. However, u′ of different signs are distributed symmetrically in subsidence unlike the predominantly negative θ′ as instability increases. Thus, the spatial patterns of u′ w′ differ compared to θ′ w′ in regions of subsidence. These results depict the mechanisms for departure from the MOST scaling, which is related to the stronger role of subsidence.

scholarly journals Characterization of a boreal convective boundary layer and its impact on atmospheric chemistry during HUMPPA-COPEC-2010

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 9335-9353 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Ouwersloot ◽  
J. Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
A. C. Nölscher ◽  
M. C. Krol ◽  
L. N. Ganzeveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. We studied the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dynamics and the impact on atmospheric chemistry during the HUMPPA-COPEC-2010 campaign. We used vertical profiles of potential temperature and specific moisture, obtained from 132 radio soundings, to determine the main boundary layer characteristics during the campaign. We propose a classification according to several main ABL prototypes. Further, we performed a case study of a single day, focusing on the convective boundary layer, to analyse the influence of the dynamics on the chemical evolution of the ABL. We used a mixed layer model, initialized and constrained by observations. In particular, we investigated the role of large scale atmospheric dynamics (subsidence and advection) on the ABL development and the evolution of chemical species concentrations. We find that, if the large scale forcings are taken into account, the ABL dynamics are represented satisfactorily. Subsequently, we studied the impact of mixing with a residual layer aloft during the morning transition on atmospheric chemistry. The time evolution of NOx and O3 concentrations, including morning peaks, can be explained and accurately simulated by incorporating the transition of the ABL dynamics from night to day. We demonstrate the importance of the ABL height evolution for the representation of atmospheric chemistry. Our findings underscore the need to couple the dynamics and chemistry at different spatial scales (from turbulence to mesoscale) in chemistry-transport models and in the interpretation of observational data.

scholarly journals The Collection Efficiency of Shielded and Unshielded Precipitation Gauges. Part II: Modeling Particle Trajectories

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Colli ◽  
Luca G. Lanza ◽  
Roy Rasmussen ◽  
Julie M. Thériault
Keyword(s):  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Turbulent Structures ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Efficiency Comparison ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The use of windshields to reduce the impact of wind on snow measurements is common. This paper investigates the catching performance of shielded and unshielded gauges using numerical simulations. In Part II, the role of the windshield and gauge aerodynamics, as well as the varying flow field due to the turbulence generated by the shield–gauge configuration, in reducing the catch efficiency is investigated. This builds on the computational fluid dynamics results obtained in Part I, where the airflow patterns in the proximity of an unshielded and single Alter shielded Geonor T-200B gauge are obtained using both time-independent [Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)] and time-dependent [large-eddy simulation (LES)] approaches. A Lagrangian trajectory model is used to track different types of snowflakes (wet and dry snow) and to assess the variation of the resulting gauge catching performance with the wind speed. The collection efficiency obtained with the LES approach is generally lower than the one obtained with the RANS approach. This is because of the impact of the LES-resolved turbulence above the gauge orifice rim. The comparison between the collection efficiency values obtained in case of shielded and unshielded gauge validates the choice of installing a single Alter shield in a windy environment. However, time-dependent simulations show that the propagating turbulent structures produced by the aerodynamic response of the upwind single Alter blades have an impact on the collection efficiency. Comparison with field observations provides the validation background for the model results.

scholarly journals The urban canopy meteorological forcing and its impact on ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub>: role of the vertical turbulent transport

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Huszar ◽  
Jan Karlický ◽  
Jana Ďoubalová ◽  
Kateřina Šindelářová ◽  
Tereza Nováková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Urban Canopy ◽  
Eddy Diffusion ◽  
Meteorological Forcing ◽  
Eddy Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vertical Eddy ◽  
Vertical Eddy Diffusion

Abstract. Urban surfaces due to specific geometry and physical properties bring modified transport of momentum, moisture and heat between them and the air above and perturb the radiative, thermal and mechanical balance resulting in changed meteorological condition (e.g. the UHI – urban heat island phenomenon). From an air quality perspective, many studies argue that one of the most important changes is the increased turbulence enhancing vertical mixing of pollutants above cities, although increased temperatures and wind stilling play an important role too. Using the regional climate model RegCM4 coupled to chemistry transport model CAMx over central Europe we study how urban surfaces affect the vertical turbulent transport of selected pollutants through modifications of the vertical eddy diffusion coefficient (Kv). For the period of 2007–2011 and over central Europe numerous experiments are carried out in order to evaluate the impact of six different methods for Kv calculation on the surface concentrations as well as vertical profiles of ozone and PM2.5 over selected cities (Prague and Berlin). Three cascading domains are set up at 27 km, 9 km and 3 km resolutions, which further enables to analyze the sensitivity to model grid resolution. Numerous experiments are performed where urban surfaces are considered or replaced by rural ones in order to isolate the urban canopy meteorological forcing. Apart from the well pronounced and expected impact on temperature (increases up to 2 °C) and wind (decreases up to −2 m s−1) there is strong impact on vertical eddy diffusion in all of the six Kv methods. The Kv enhancement ranges from a few 0.5 up to 30 m2 s−1 at the surface and from 1 to 100 m2 s−1 at higher levels depending on the methods, while the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) based methods produce the largest impact. The range of impact on the vertical eddy diffusion coefficient propagates to a range of ozone (O3) increase of 0.4 to 4 ppbv near the surface in both summer and winter, while at higher levels, decreases occur from a few −0.4 ppbv to as much as −2 ppbv. In case of PM2.5, enhanced vertical eddy diffusion leads to decrease of near surface concentrations ranging from almost zero to −1 μg m−3 in summer and to decreases from −0.5 to −2 μg m−3 in winter. Comparing these results to the total-impact, i.e. to the impact of all considered urban meteorological changes, we can conclude that much of the overall urban meteorological forcing is explained by acting of the enhanced vertical eddy diffusion, which counterweights the opposing effects of other components of this forcing (temperature, humidity and wind impact). The results further show that this conclusion holds regardless of the resolution chosen and in both the warm and cold part of the year. Our study demonstrates the dominant role of turbulent transport of pollutants above urban areas and stresses the need for further investigation how variation of urban land-use influence the pollutant transport from the urban canopy.

scholarly journals High-Resolution Numerical Modeling of Thermally Driven Slope Winds in a Valley with Strong Capping

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1859-1880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Catalano ◽  
Antonio Cenedese
Keyword(s):  
Similarity Theory ◽  
Gravity Current ◽  
Wall Layer ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Return Flow ◽  
Katabatic Flow ◽  
Thermal Forcing ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The complete day–night cycle of the circulation over a slope under simplified idealized boundary conditions is investigated by means of large-eddy simulations (LES). The thermal forcing is given with a time-varying law for the surface temperature. A surface layer parameterization based on the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory is used as a wall layer model. The domain geometry is symmetric, having an infinitely long straight valley in the y direction. Since the depth of the katabatic flow in midlatitude climates is limited to 5–30 m, the authors introduced a vertically stretched grid to obtain a finer mesh near the ground. The length scale for the calculation of eddy viscosities is modified to take into account the grid anisotropy. A preintegration of 24 h is made to obtain a capping inversion over the valley. Results show that the model is able to reproduce microscale circulation dynamics driven by thermal forcing over sloping terrain. The diurnal growth of the convective boundary layer leading to the development of the anabatic wind as well as the evolution of the cold pool in the valley during the night and its interaction with the katabatic flow are shown. Waves develop at the interface between the anabatic current and the return flow. During the day, as a combined effect of the geometry and the forcing, a horizontal breeze develops directed from the middle of the valley toward the ridges. The impact of the gravity current on the quiescent atmosphere in the valley generates a weak hydraulic jump during the night.

Assessing the Turbulence Kinetic Energy Budget in the Boundary Layer Using WRF-LES: Impact of Momentum Perturbation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukesh Kumar ◽  
Tirtha Banerjee ◽  
Alex Jonko ◽  
Jeff Mirocha ◽  
William Lassman
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Random Perturbation ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Turbulence Kinetic Energy ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;Mesoscale-to-Large Eddy Simulation (LES) grid nesting is an important tool for many atmospheric model applications, ranging from wind energy to wildfire spread studies. Different techniques are used in such applications to accelerate the development of turbulence in the LES domain. Here, we explore the impact of a simple and computationally efficient Stochastic Cell Perturbation method (SCPM) to accelerate the generation of turbulence in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) LES model on the Turbulence Kinetic Energy (TKE) budget. In a convective boundary layer, we study the variation of TKE budget terms under the initial conditions of the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility located in West Texas. In this study, WRF LES is used with a horizontal grid resolution of 12 m, and is one-way nested within an idealized mesoscale domain. It is crucial to understand how forced perturbation shifts the balance between the terms of the TKE budget. Here, we quantify the shear production, and buoyant production in an unstable case. Since additional production terms are introduced in the SCPM method, we investigate the dissipation term of TKE. In addition, we also study the generation of turbulent transport. Generally, it integrates over height to null in a planar homogeneous case without subsidence, indicating it is positive over some heights and negative over other heights. Furthermore, we also study the variation of the TKE transport term after extending the random perturbation up to a certain height. The findings of this study will provide a better understanding of the contribution of different budget terms in a forced LES simulation.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Exploration of the impact of nearby sources on urban atmospheric inversions using large eddy simulation

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Gaudet ◽  
Thomas Lauvaux ◽  
Aijun Deng ◽  
Kenneth J. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Large Eddy Simulation ◽  
Mesoscale Model ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Source Inversion ◽  
Mesoscale Models ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
The Impact

The Indianapolis Flux Experiment (INFLUX) aims to quantify and improve the effectiveness of inferring greenhouse gas (GHG) source strengths from downstream concentration measurements in urban environments. Mesoscale models such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model can provide realistic depictions of planetary boundary layer (PBL) structure and flow fields at horizontal grid lengths (Δx) down to a few km. Nevertheless, a number of potential sources of error exist in the use of mesoscale models for urban inversions, including accurate representation of the dispersion of GHGs by turbulence close to a point source. Here we evaluate the predictive skill of a 1-km chemistry-adapted WRF (WRF-Chem) simulation of daytime CO2 transport from an Indianapolis power plant for a single INFLUX case (28 September 2013). We compare the simulated plume release on domains at different resolutions, as well as on a domain run in large eddy simulation (LES) mode, enabling us to study the impact of both spatial resolution and parameterization of PBL turbulence on the transport of CO2. Sensitivity tests demonstrate that much of the difference between 1-km mesoscale and 111-m LES plumes, including substantially lower maximum concentrations in the mesoscale simulation, is due to the different horizontal resolutions. However, resolution is insufficient to account for the slower rate of ascent of the LES plume with downwind distance, which results in much higher surface concentrations for the LES plume in the near-field but a near absence of tracer aloft. Physics sensitivity experiments and theoretical analytical models demonstrate that this effect is an inherent problem with the parameterization of turbulent transport in the mesoscale PBL scheme. A simple transformation is proposed that may be applied to mesoscale model concentration footprints to correct for their near-field biases. Implications for longer-term source inversion are discussed.

scholarly journals Exchange Processes in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Mountainous Terrain

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Serafin ◽  
Bianca Adler ◽  
Joan Cuxart ◽  
Stephan De Wekker ◽  
Alexander Gohm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Exchange Processes ◽  
The Impact

The exchange of heat, momentum, and mass in the atmosphere over mountainous terrain is controlled by synoptic-scale dynamics, thermally driven mesoscale circulations, and turbulence. This article reviews the key challenges relevant to the understanding of exchange processes in the mountain boundary layer and outlines possible research priorities for the future. The review describes the limitations of the experimental study of turbulent exchange over complex terrain, the impact of slope and valley breezes on the structure of the convective boundary layer, and the role of intermittent mixing and wave–turbulence interaction in the stable boundary layer. The interplay between exchange processes at different spatial scales is discussed in depth, emphasizing the role of elevated and ground-based stable layers in controlling multi-scale interactions in the atmosphere over and near mountains. Implications of the current understanding of exchange processes over mountains towards the improvement of numerical weather prediction and climate models are discussed, considering in particular the representation of surface boundary conditions, the parameterization of sub-grid-scale exchange, and the development of stochastic perturbation schemes.

scholarly journals The impact of inhomogeneous emissions and topography on ozone photochemistry in the vicinity of the Hong Kong island

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuting Wang ◽  
Yong-Feng Ma ◽  
Domingo Muñoz-Esparza ◽  
Cathy W. Y. Li ◽  
Mary Barth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Transport Models ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Simple Chemical ◽  
Chemical Scheme ◽  
Ozone Photochemistry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Secondary Chemical

Abstract. Global and regional chemical transport models of the atmosphere are based on the assumption that chemical species are completely mixed within each model grid box. However, in reality, these species are often segregated due to localized sources and the influence of the topography. In order to investigate the degree to which the rates of chemical reactions between two reactive species are reduced due to the possible segregation of species within the convective boundary layer, we perform large-eddy simulations (LES) in the mountainous region of the Hong Kong island. We adopt a simple chemical scheme with 15 primary and secondary chemical species including ozone and its precursors. We calculate the segregation intensity due to inhomogeneity in the surface emissions of primary pollutants and due to turbulent motions related to topography. We show that the inhomogeneity in the emissions increases the segregation intensity by a factor 2–5 relative to a case in which the emissions are assumed to be uniformly distributed. Topography has an important effect on the segregation locally, but this influence is relatively limited when considering the spatial domain as a whole.

scholarly journals The impact of inhomogeneous emissions and topography on ozone photochemistry in the vicinity of Hong Kong Island

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 3531-3553
Author(s):  
Yuting Wang ◽  
Yong-Feng Ma ◽  
Domingo Muñoz-Esparza ◽  
Cathy W. Y. Li ◽  
Mary Barth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Segregation Effect ◽  
Chemical Scheme ◽  
Ozone Photochemistry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Secondary Chemical

Abstract. Global and regional chemical transport models of the atmosphere are based on the assumption that chemical species are completely mixed within each model grid box. However, in reality, these species are often segregated due to localized sources and the influence of topography. In order to investigate the degree to which the rates of chemical reactions between two reactive species are reduced due to the possible segregation of species within the convective boundary layer, we perform large-eddy simulations (LESs) in the mountainous region of Hong Kong Island. We adopt a simple chemical scheme with 15 primary and secondary chemical species, including ozone and its precursors. We calculate the segregation intensity due to inhomogeneity in the surface emissions of primary pollutants and due to turbulent motions related to topography. We show that the inhomogeneity in the emissions increases the segregation intensity by a factor of 2–5 relative to a case in which the emissions are assumed to be uniformly distributed. Topography has an important effect on the segregation locally, but this influence is relatively limited when considering the spatial domain as a whole. In the particular setting of our model, segregation reduces the ozone formation by 8 %–12 % compared to the case with complete mixing, implying that the coarse-resolution models may overestimate the surface ozone when ignoring the segregation effect.

Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Brambilla ◽  
David A. Butz
Keyword(s):  
Gay Men ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Welfare Recipients ◽  
Intergroup Attitudes ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Intergroup Threat ◽  
Economic Threat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
General Climate

Two studies examined the impact of macrolevel symbolic threat on intergroup attitudes. In Study 1 (N = 71), participants exposed to a macrosymbolic threat (vs. nonsymbolic threat and neutral topic) reported less support toward social policies concerning gay men, an outgroup whose stereotypes implies a threat to values, but not toward welfare recipients, a social group whose stereotypes do not imply a threat to values. Study 2 (N = 78) showed that, whereas macrolevel symbolic threat led to less favorable attitudes toward gay men, macroeconomic threat led to less favorable attitudes toward Asians, an outgroup whose stereotypes imply an economic threat. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the role of a general climate of threat in shaping intergroup attitudes.

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