Title: Evaluation of the influence of micrometeorological data on concentration estimates

Authors: Ana Graciela Ulke

Addresses: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina; Unidad Mixta Internacional, Instituto Franco Argentino sobre Estudios de Clima y sus Impactos, (IFAECI)/CNRS, Argentina

Abstract: A dispersion model for continuous releases of pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer is applied to study the influence on modelled concentrations of different estimates of the key micrometeorological variables that represent the dispersion processes. The modelling approach is based on the advection-diffusion equation and includes profiles of wind and eddy diffusivity for the entire atmospheric boundary layer. Their functional forms depend on relevant parameters that represent the turbulent mechanisms in a wide range of stabilities. The Prairie Grass experiments were considered for the evaluation. The model performed satisfactorily in the estimation of the near surface crosswind integrated concentrations. The distinct micrometeorological parameters caused, in general, minor differences in the concentrations. However, a greater impact was found during very stable or unstable conditions. In consequence, in these particular situations, the methodologies to obtain the micrometeorological parameters must be carefully analysed.

Keywords: air pollution; atmospheric dispersion modelling; air quality; model evaluation; Prairie Grass; micrometeorological data; pollutant release; concentration estimation; advection-diffusion equation; wind profiles; eddy diffusivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2014.065911

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2014 Vol.55 No.1/2/3/4, pp.113 - 119

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

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