Title: Traceflux: a small-scale tracer experiment at a forested site

Authors: Eva van Gorsel, Mirela Goanta, Christian Bernhofer

Addresses: Technische Universitat Dresden, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Department of Meteorologie, Dresden, 01062, Germany. ' Technische Universitat Dresden, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Department of Meteorologie, Dresden, 01062, Germany. ' Technische Universitat Dresden, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Department of Meteorologie, Dresden, 01062, Germany

Abstract: Results from four successful tracer experiments carried out in a dense forest canopy are presented. For each experiment, sulphur hexafluoride SF6 was released from a point source in trunk space and air samples were collected at 19 horizontally distributed locations in the canopy. Meteorological measurements include fast-response turbulence data recorded at several locations in and above the forest. Measured mean concentrations of SF6 are compared against concentrations calculated by an analytical solution to the equation of diffusion. For near neutral and weak unstable conditions the model performs surprisingly well, even though the wind profile and turbulence statistics deviate substantially from surface layer characteristics. Still if more than an estimate of the concentration field is needed a more sophisticated model should be applied.

Keywords: tracer experiments; SF6; sulphur hexafluoride concentrations; dispersion modelling; forest canopy; analytic model; canopy turbulence; wind profile; turbulence statistics; surface layer; air pollution; air quality; trace gas concentrations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2005.007652

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2005 Vol.25 No.1/2/3/4, pp.25 - 32

Published online: 31 Aug 2005 *

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