scholarly journals Vertical Measurement of Equivalent Black Carbon Concentration at Low Altitude

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 5142
Author(s):  
Jeonghoon Lee ◽  
Jiseung Park ◽  
Juhyung Kim

The vertical profile of equivalent black carbon (eBC) concentrations has been measured together with the temperature up to 130 m above ground level at several locations. A hexacopter was deployed for the measurement of eBC, and the temperature on typical days in winter, spring, summer and early autumn. We observed high eBC concentrations between 10 m and 90 m above ground level, which was related to the vertical distribution of temperature. We examined that the measurement noise could be reduced by using a box-average scheme. Furthermore, the negative values at low eBC concentration could be removed for an averaging time of 30 min or longer.

Author(s):  
Stephen J. Curran

This paper is a pilot study on the concept of an aerial base station as a future strategy for restoring cellular communications in the aftermath of a major disaster. The strategy being studied makes use of low altitude platforms (LAPs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can hover or orbit in a relatively fixed position and can act as an aerial base station. Unlike High Altitude Platforms (HAP) operating in a layer of the atmosphere above any existing air traffic, the LAPs or UAVs will be able to operate a few hundred to some thousands of meters above ground level. This paper also describes the functionality of the components comprising the aerial base station.


2006 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pepin ◽  
K. A. Curtis ◽  
P. V. R. Snelgrove ◽  
B. de Young ◽  
J. A. Helbig

Abstract Pepin, P., Curtis, K.A., Snelgrove, P.V.R., de Young, B., and Helbig, J.A. 2007. Optimal estimation of catch by the continous underway fish egg sampler based on a model of the vertical distribution of American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) eggs – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64, 18–30. We investigate how the vertical stratification of the water column (specifically density) affects predictions of the catch of American plaice eggs (Hipploglossoides platessoides) from a fixed-depth sampler [the continuous underway fish egg sampler (CUFES)] relative to the integrated abundance in the water column measured in bongo tows. A steady-state model of the vertical distribution of fish eggs coupled with a simple model of the vertical profile of eddy diffusivity (i.e. mixing) is applied. Key model parameters are estimated through optimization of a one-to-one relationship between predicted and observed catches fit, using a generalized linear model with a Poisson, negative binomial, or gamma error structure. The incorporation of data on the vertical structure of the water column significantly improved the ability to forecast CUFES catches when using Poisson or negative binomial error structure, but not using a gamma distribution. Optimal maximum likelihood parameter estimates for eddy diffusivity and egg buoyancy fell within the range of expected values. The degree of uncertainty in the parameterization of eddy diffusivity suggests, however, that greater understanding of the forces that determine the vertical profile of mixing is critical to achieving strong predictive capabilities. The inverse problem of predicting integrated abundance from CUFES catches did not benefit from the environmental-driven model because of the high uncertainty in the catches from the CUFES.


Author(s):  
Lianji Jin ◽  
Liang Lin ◽  
Deping Ding ◽  
Delong Zhao ◽  
Bin Zhu ◽  
...  

Studies on the detection of layers with elevated black carbon aerosol (BC) concentrations and the formation conditions of these layers help understand the vertical distribution of BC concentrations, which will provide a basis for the assessment of climate effects and early BC pollution warnings. By using the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) numerical model, we performed a numerical simulation analysis on the authenticity of strong elevated BC concentration layers that were detected by an aircraft in the mixing layer over Harbin, China, which is a high-emission area, on a clear sunny afternoon in the early heating period of 2016. We then discuss possible problems and solutions when non-vertical paths are used to detect the vertical distribution of BC concentrations. Finally, we discuss the favorable conditions for the formation of elevated BC concentration layers by weak vertical flow. The results show that the horizontal variability of BC concentration in the mixing layer in the observation area in Harbin was sufficiently large during the measurement. This produced a false elevated layer, as detected by the aircraft during one round of spiral flight in the mixing layer. The root mean square of the horizontal distribution of BC concentration did not change with height in the mixing layer during the daytime, but it decreased with the thickness of the mixing layer and was higher in the mixing layer than in the free atmosphere. Therefore, the thinner the mixing layer, in which the vertical distribution of the BC concentration is detected in an inclined path, the stronger interference of the horizontal variability on the detected results. When a spiral flight detection path is used, the aircraft should fly at least two rounds in the mixing layer. In the daytime, due to strong turbulence in the mixing layer, weak vertical uplift is not favorable for the occurrence of elevated BC concentration layers in the mixing layer. In the nighttime, if weak vertical uplift is well matched with the BC concentration or its vertical gradient, elevated BC concentration layers can be formed in the atmosphere. Compared with upper layers far from the ground, nighttime elevated layers are easier to form in lower layers near the ground because high BC concentrations or large vertical gradients are more likely to occur in the lower layers. Both cases facilitate the occurrence of large vertical upward transport rates of BC.


2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 1327-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
NADILSON R. FERREIRA ◽  
LUCIA B. FRANKE ◽  
BETINA BLOCHTEIN

The vertical distribution of pollinators is an important component in the foraging pattern of plants strata, and it influences the reproductive system (pollen/ovule ratio) and seed/ovule ratio. Niches in two different strata from Adesmia tristis Vogel were evaluated in these aspects. This plant is an endemic shrub from the Campos de Cima da Serra in Southern Brazil. The studies were carried out from January 2010, to January 2011, at Pró-Mata/PUCRS (Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul) (29°27′-29°35′S and 50°08′-50°15′W), São Francisco de Paula, sate of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Breeding system of A. tristis is mandatory allogamy. The vertical profile in A. tristis has differentiated foraging niches among the most common pollinators. Bees of Megachile genus forage in the upper stratum, and representative bees of the Andrenidae family explore the lower stratum. The upper stratum of the vertical profile had more contribution to seed production. Adesmia tristis showed evidence of pollination deficit.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 481
Author(s):  
Lianji Jin ◽  
Liang Lin ◽  
Deping Ding ◽  
Delong Zhao ◽  
Bin Zhu ◽  
...  

Studies on the detection of layers with elevated black carbon aerosol (BC) concentrations and the formation conditions of these layers help understand the vertical distribution of BC concentrations, which will provide a basis for the assessment of climate effects and early pollution warnings. By using the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) numerical model, we performed a numerical simulation analysis on the authenticity of strongly elevated BC concentration layers that were detected by an aircraft in the mixing layer over Harbin, China, which is a high-emission area, on a clear sunny afternoon in the early heating period of 2016. We then discuss possible problems and solutions when non-vertical paths are used to detect the vertical distribution of BC concentrations. Finally, we discuss the favorable conditions for the formation of elevated BC concentration layers by a weak vertical flow based on the simulation. The modeling results show that the horizontal variability of BC concentration in the mixing layer in the observation area in Harbin was sufficiently large during the measurement. This produced a false elevated layer, as detected by the aircraft during one round of spiral flight in the mixing layer. The root mean square of the horizontal distribution of BC concentration did not change with height in the mixing layer during the daytime, but it decreased with the thickness of the mixing layer and was higher in the mixing layer than in the free atmosphere. Therefore, the thinner the mixing layer, in which the vertical distribution of the BC concentration is detected in an inclined path, the stronger interference of the horizontal variability on the detected results. In the daytime, due to strong turbulence in the mixing layer, weak vertical uplift is not favorable for the occurrence of elevated BC concentration layers in the mixing layer. In the nighttime, if weak vertical uplift is well-matched with the BC concentration or its vertical gradient, elevated BC concentration layers can be formed in the atmosphere. Compared with upper layers far from the ground, nighttime elevated layers are easier to form in lower layers near the ground because high BC concentrations or large vertical gradients are more likely to occur in the lower layers. Both cases facilitate the occurrence of large vertical upward transport rates of BC.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Jiao Zhang ◽  
Wen Wang ◽  
Zhanbin Li ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Ya Zhong ◽  
...  

Ice cover in an open channel can influence the flow structure, such as the flow velocity, Reynolds stress and turbulence intensity. This study analyzes the vertical distributions of velocity, Reynolds stress and turbulence intensity in fully and partially ice-covered channels by theoretical methods and laboratory experiments. According to the experimental data, the vertical profile of longitudinal velocities follows an approximately symmetry form. Different from the open channel flow, the maximum value of longitudinal velocity occurs near the middle of the water depth, which is close to the channel bed with a smoother boundary roughness compared to the ice cover. The measured Reynolds stress has a linear distribution along the vertical axis, and the vertical distribution of measured turbulence intensity follows an exponential law. Theoretically, a two-power-law function is presented to obtain the analytical formula of the longitudinal velocity. In addition, the vertical profile of Reynolds stress is obtained by the simplified momentum equation and the vertical profile of turbulence intensity is investigated by an improved exponential model. The predicted data from the analytical models agree well with the experimental ones, thereby confirming that the analytical models are feasible to predict the vertical distribution of velocity, Reynolds stress and turbulence intensity in ice-covered channels. The proposed models can offer an important theoretical reference for future study about the sediment transport and contaminant dispersion in ice-covered channels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Li ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Oleg Dubovik ◽  
Zhao-Cheng Zeng ◽  
Yuk L. Yung

When retrieving Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from passive satellite sensors, the vertical distribution of aerosols usually needs to be assumed, potentially causing uncertainties in the retrievals. In this study, we use the Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors as examples to investigate the impact of aerosol vertical distribution on AOD retrievals. A series of sensitivity experiments was conducted using radiative transfer models with different aerosol profiles and surface conditions. Assuming a 0.2 AOD, we found that the AOD retrieval error is the most sensitive to the vertical distribution of absorbing aerosols; a −1 km error in aerosol scale height can lead to a ~30% AOD retrieval error. Moreover, for this aerosol type, ignoring the existence of the boundary layer can further result in a ~10% AOD retrieval error. The differences in the vertical distribution of scattering and absorbing aerosols within the same column may also cause −15% (scattering aerosols above absorbing aerosols) to 15% (scattering aerosols below absorbing aerosols) errors. Surface reflectance also plays an important role in affecting the AOD retrieval error, with higher errors over brighter surfaces in general. The physical mechanism associated with the AOD retrieval errors is also discussed. Finally, by replacing the default exponential profile with the observed aerosol vertical profile by a micro-pulse lidar at the Beijing-PKU site in the VIIRS retrieval algorithm, the retrieved AOD shows a much better agreement with surface observations, with the correlation coefficient increased from 0.63 to 0.83 and bias decreased from 0.15 to 0.03. Our study highlights the importance of aerosol vertical profile assumption in satellite AOD retrievals, and indicates that considering more realistic profiles can help reduce the uncertainties.


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