Title: Mesoscale simulation of meteorological profiles during the Sofia Experiment 2003

Authors: Hristina Kirova; Ekaterina Batchvarova

Addresses: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 66, Tsarigradsko Chaussee, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria ' National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 66, Tsarigradsko Chaussee, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria

Abstract: Sofia is situated in a mountain valley and suffers from air pollution problems. The planetary boundary-layer-evolution Sofia-Experiment 2003 (comprising radiosoundings every 2 h with vertical resolution 3-4 m) was used to evaluate one configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model against data. Statistical analysis was performed for each model level and time of radiosounding, as well as for some integral characteristics within the boundary layer. The vertical profiles of relative humidity, temperature, potential temperature, and wind speed were reproduced with correlation coefficient larger than 0.8, while wind direction was poorly resolved up to 1,000 m. The performance of WRF as meteorological driver for air pollution studies was studied separately under convective conditions at afternoon hours (AH, comprising 11, 13, 15, 17 LST) and under transition hours (TH, comprising 09, 11, 19 LST). WRF simulated with smaller bias most of the analysed parameters during TH compared to AH.

Keywords: model evaluation; planetary boundary layer; PBL; consecutive radiosoundings; vertical profiles; mountain valley.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2017.085658

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2017 Vol.61 No.2, pp.134 - 147

Accepted: 20 Jan 2017
Published online: 05 Aug 2017 *

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