Title: Influence of stable atmospheric thermal stratification on urban street-canyon re-aeration

Authors: S. Rafailidis

Addresses: Environmental Research Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Technology-Radiation Protection, NRCPS Demokritos, GR-15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Greece

Abstract: To assist validation of numerical models of urban pollution dispersion, the boundary layer (BL) developing above a model town and the dispersion of street-level pollution on the surrounding buildings in typical street-canyon geometries, have been investigated in a wind tunnel under both neutral and stable thermal stratification conditions. Different street aspect ratios and roof configurations were used. The results indicate that stable stratification results in pollution ||capping|| in the urban street canyons. The effect depends on the shape of the building roofs, with slanted roofs somewhat compensating for this ||capping|| effect. As a rule, wider street configurations are more sensitive to oncoming thermal stratification than narrower canyons, irrespective of roof shape.

Keywords: model validation databases; stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer; urban street-canyon reaeration; urban traffic pollution dispersion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2001.000635

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2001 Vol.16 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.393-403

Published online: 07 Jul 2003 *

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