Prediction of gas diffusion in complicated terrain by a potential flow model

A numerical model was developed to simulate gaseous diffusion in complicated terrain. This model calculates the air flow as a potential flow by the Boundary Element Method, and gaseous diffusion by an analytical Gaussian equation in the potential flow. Plume spreads σ_y and σ_z are modified by multiregression equations derived from wind tunnel experiments, and the terrain height is elongated depending on the atmospheric stability.First, tracer data from Cinder Cone Butte in the U.S. measured by the U.S.-EPA were predicted by the model in order to examine the prediction accuracy under stable conditions. The averaged ratio of the observed concentration to predicted concentration for 12 runs was better than a factor of 10. Next, tracer data from the Geysers area in the U.S. measured by the U.S.-DOE were used to examine the prediction accuracy under neutral conditions. The ratio of the observed concentration to predicted concentration for two runs under neutral conditions was better than factor of two at most locations, but prediction capability is poor in blocked or separated flow conditions.     

A pesticide emission model (PEM) Part I: model development

The application of pesticides to cultivated soil and crops is a major source of pesticides that are found in the atmosphere and which are transported and deposited to land and water surfaces over distances that range from local to global scales. In this first part of a two-part paper, a pesticide emission model (PEM) is proposed for estimating the exchange with the atmosphere of pesticides applied to soils and crops. The basis of PEM is a one-dimensional numerical solution of the dynamic equations describing the advection and diffusion of heat, moisture and pesticide within the soil column and exchange with the atmosphere through heat transfer, evapotranspiration and volatilization. The soil model is coupled with an atmospheric surface layer and a simple canopy model that includes: the interception of sprayed pesticide by the crop foliage; the partitioning of pesticide within a wet or dry canopy; and, the volatilization of pesticide to the atmosphere or the wash-off to the soil by precipitation. The finite-element technique used for solving the model equations is mass conservative and multi-year periods of simulation are possible while maintaining a proper mass balance of pesticide in the soil. The model is solved using 1200 s time-steps and 49 variably spaced levels in the soil to a depth of 2 m, with the highest vertical resolution (0.002 m spacing) near the soil surface. Similarity theory is used to parameterize the fluxes of heat, moisture and pesticide through the atmospheric surface layer with hourly meteorology being provided by either climate station observations or a meteorological model. In the second part to this paper, the results of an evaluation of PEM are reported.     

Numerical calculation of flow and stack-gas concentration fluctuation around a cubical building

A numerical simulation model was developed to predict the instantaneous concentration fluctuation of a plume and applied to stack-gas diffusion around a cubical building. The flow field, including an instantaneous velocity component, was predicted using the large eddy simulation (LES) method in the developed numerical model. Then, the instantaneous concentration fluctuation was predicted using the obtained unsteady flow field. Concentration was calculated using the finite difference method, in which the LES is expanded for concentration, and the puff method, in which small volumes of the tracer gas are divided and combined according to the calculation mesh sizes. In order to avoid numerical viscous effects, a puff method and finite difference method were applied separately in the regions near and far from the stack-gas release point, respectively. Then, the flow field around a cubical building and the diffusion of stack-gas, emitted from an elevated point source at an upstream position of the building, were calculated using the model mentioned above. Numerical calculation results were compared with those obtained in wind tunnel experiments in which concentration fluctuation was measured using high-response flame ionization detectors. Although there were some discrepancies in the flow field between the calculated results and those of wind tunnel experiments, e.g., the calculated windward length of a cavity region behind the building, the calculated mean velocity and turbulent intensity showed good agreement with those of the wind tunnel experiments. Furthermore, the calculated concentration fluctuation showed good agreement with that in the wind tunnel, not only regarding the features of fluctuating concentration signals, but also statistic quantities, viz., mean concentration, fluctuation intensity and high-concentration values.     

Evaluation of the performance of RAM with the Regional Air Pollution Study data base

The RAM air quality simulation model's performance is examined using the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) Level-7 data base. Time series analyses were performed to test the adequacy of RAM in simulating the dynamics of pollutants in the atmosphere. Power spectrum and auto-correlation analyses show that the predicted concentrations do not have the same temporal characteristics as the observations during the winter period.Both paired and unpaired analyses are included to critically examine the model performance. The paired comparisons, including those performance measures suggested by the AMS Woods Hole workshop, indicate a better agreement between predicted and observed data at the rural sites than at the urban sites. When the data are segregated according to wind speed and atmospheric stability class, it is found that there is very little agreement between the predicted and measured concentrations under extreme stability (either very unstable or very stable) and low wind speed (less than 2 ms⁻¹ conditions.The measured and predicted daily maximum concentrations are subjected to the ‘bootstrap’ sampling procedure to develop the distribution of the differences between observed and predicted concentrations. These distributions suggest that the errors are random, and, therefore, RAM cannot be calibrated to improve model performance within the urban area. Further, the analyses suggest that improvement of RAM's performance may be realized through a better characterization of area source emissions within the urban area and the inclusion of other physical processes such as a fumigation algorithm in the model.     

Measurements of ammonia emission from grazed grassland

Some of the factors influencing NH(3) emission from grazed grassland were examined. The large day-to-day variation in rates of loss were only partially explained by variation in the measured environmental factors (wind speed, soil and air temperature, soil moisture status, relative humidity, rainfall and potential evapotranspiration). Of the measured variables, wind speed had the largest effect but the best multiple linear regression model of daily NH(3) loss had an adjusted R(2) value of only 0.406. The mechanisms controlling NH(3) flux were therefore unclear. There were marked diurnal rhythms in NH(3) loss and the concentration gradients above the sward were strongest during the period which included the 3 h each side of midday. This pattern of NH(3) release has important implications in relation to atmospheric mixing processes and chemical reactions. A comparison of two means of determining NH(3) concentrations, i.e. a bubbler collection system or denuder tubes, indicated that different forms were collected which could be related to the environmental conditions. Such differences and effects should be considered when models are developed to describe the behaviour of nitrogenous and other species in the atmosphere.     

Wind tunnel experiment of tracer gas diffusion within unstable boundary layer over coastal region

A wind tunnel experiment was carried out to simulate stack gas diffusion within an unstable atmospheric boundary layer over a coastal region. The wind tunnel floor, 4 m leeward of the entrance of the test section, was heated to 90°C over a length of 6 m in the streamwise direction, and wind tunnel experiments were performed under the flat plate condition with a prototype-to-model length scale ratio of 1200. Three similarity criteria of flow fields in the wind tunnel and in atmosphere, viz., bulk Richardson number, surface Reynolds number and the ratio of the Peclet number to the Richardson number, were considered in the wind tunnel experiment. Tracer gas was released along the coastline at a height of 10 cm, which corresponded to 120 m in height in atmosphere. The obtained wind tunnel experimental results of ground level concentration were compared with 30-min average values of the field experiments, viz., the data from the Tokai 82 field experiment. The maximum ground level concentration and its location were accurately simulated when there was close similarity between the wind tunnel and atmospheric flow conditions. The maximum concentration increased and occurred closer to the source when the level of convection was relatively stronger in atmosphere.     

Traffic atmospheric diffusion model

A digital computer model simulation of traffic flow using car-following theory and constrained random input has been developed to predict the concentration of gaseous pollutants (i.e. NO₂ and HC) in the atmosphere emitted from different types of vehicles on the roads, using a simple Gaussian dispersion point source plume.Measurements were made on different roads of Baghdad city. Atmospheric pollutant concentrations, traffic flow rate, traffic composition and climatic conditions were recorded.The prediction method was then tested against measurements. The predicted levels are in acceptable agreement with the measured values. The model was then used to examine various traffic and pollutant control strategies.     

An atmospheric dispersion model for the environmental impact assessment of thermal power plants in Japan--a method for evaluating topographical effects

An atmospheric dispersion model was developed for the environmental impact assessment of thermal power plants in Japan, and a method for evaluating topographical effects using this model was proposed. The atmospheric dispersion model consists of an airflow model with a turbulence closure model based on the algebraic Reynolds stress model and a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (LPDM). The evaluation of the maximum concentration of air pollutants such as SO2, NOx, and suspended particulate matter is usually considered of primary importance for environmental impact assessment. Three indices were therefore estimated by the atmospheric dispersion model: the ratios (alpha and beta, respectively) of the maximum concentration and the distance of the point of the maximum concentration from the source over topography to the respective values over a flat plane, and the relative concentration distribution [gamma(x)] along the ground surface projection of the plume axis normalized by the maximum concentration over a flat plane. The atmospheric dispersion model was applied to the topography around a power plant with a maximum elevation of more than 1,000 m. The values of alpha and beta evaluated by the atmospheric dispersion model varied between 1 and 3 and between 1 and 0.4, respectively, depending on the topographical features. These results and the calculated distributions of y(x) were highly similar to the results of the wind tunnel experiment. Therefore, when the slope of a hill or mountain is similar to the topography considered in this study, it is possible to evaluate topographical effects on exhaust gas dispersion with reasonable accuracy using the atmospheric dispersion model as well as wind tunnel experiments.     

高架连续点源落地浓度预测中风速的确定

高架连续点源污染物排放落地浓度是大气环境影响预测的主要内容。由于大气污染物扩散明显受气象条件尤其是风速的影响,而现有预测模型中对于风速的取值都是按经验值来确定的。通过分析在不同气象和烟源条件下,平均风速的计算方法对烟羽抬升高度以及最大落地浓度产生的影响,与实测值相比较确定了风速取值的合理方法,缩小了预测偏差。     

冬季沈阳市典型源排放PM10浓度分布模拟分析

选取沈阳市7个典型的大气污染源2006年12月～2007年2月的PM10排放浓度资料,利用CALPUFF对PM10浓度月平均分布做模拟分析。模拟结果分析表明：冬季月平均PM10浓度分布的范围与风场、地形有直接的关系。地势平坦、风速大时,污染物扩散范围大,污染物浓度小;地势不平、风速小时,污染物扩散范围小,污染物浓度大。1月份是沈阳市冬季月平均大气污染最严重的月份,污染物分布主要集中在市区的北部、东部和南部地区,东部地区大气污染最为严重。     

Effects of wind shear on pollution dispersion

Using an accurate numerical method for simulating the advection and diffusion of pollution puffs, it is demonstrated that point releases of pollution grow into a shape reflecting the vertical wind shear profile experienced by the puff within a time scale less than 4 h. For distances beyond several 10 s of kilometers from a release point, shear-related dispersion effects are probably the dominant mechanism affecting the area and magnitude of surface impacts. For assessing long-range pollutant dispersion, the common assumption that pollutants disperse as horizontally spherical “puffs” in the atmosphere is inherently inaccurate since shear-induced horizontal spreading of pollution is not a homogeneous “turbulent-like” diffusion process. A Lagrangian puff model can simulate an area impacted by a pollution puff only if larger shear-dependent horizontal puff dispersions are assumed. However, even if impacted areas are reasonably simulated, peak concentrations will be severely underestimated since atmospheric puffs influenced by even small amounts of wind shear are nonspherical. If horizontal dispersion coefficients in a Lagrangian puff model are adjusted so that peak concentrations are correctly simulated, then the calculated pollution impact area will be severely skewed. In shear environments, no choice of horizontal dispersion coefficients in a single-puff Lagrangian model will yield reasonable correlations with puffs that are skewed into nonspherical shapes by atmospheric wind shear.     

A modeling assessment of association between East Asian summer monsoon and fate/outflow of α-HCH in Northeast Asia

Using a dynamic numerical atmospheric transport model for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), the relationship between the East Asian summer monsoon and the fate of α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), a banned OCP, in the atmosphere over Northeast Asia was investigated and assessed. The modeled temporal and spatial patterns and variability of α-HCH air concentrations during the summer months of 2005 revealed a strong link between this chemical in the atmosphere over Northeast Asia and the East Asian summer monsoon. At lower atmospheric levels, easterly and southeasterly winds blowing from relatively cold ocean surface convey α-HCH air concentration from southeast China to northeast China. A monsoon front extending from southeast China to Japan, characterized by a strong wind convergence, carried the air concentration to a high elevation of the atmosphere where it was delivered by southerly monsoon flow to northern China and North Pacific Ocean. This summer monsoon associated northward atmospheric transport caused a reversal of the soil/air exchange from outgassing to net deposition during spring–summer period. The modeled wet deposition fluxes of α-HCH agreed well with the changes in the typical summer monsoon rain bands, designated as Meiyu in China, Changma in Korea, and Baiu in Japan. The major wet deposition flux paralleled with the monsoon front as well as the monsoon rain bands. The temporal change in the fluxes exhibits abrupt northward advances, which is associated with a stepwise northward and northeastward advance of the East Asian summer monsoon. The modeled α-HCH outflow in the atmosphere from China occurs mostly in the summer months and through northeast China, featured strongly by the evolution of the summer month. This study suggests that the East Asian summer monsoon provides a major atmospheric pathway and summer outflows to α-HCH over East Asia.     

Evaluation of the CAR-FMI model against measurements near a major road

A field measurement campaign was conducted near a major road in southern Finland from September 15 to October 30, 1995. The concentrations of NO, NO₂ and O₃ were measured simultaneously at three locations, at three heights (3.5, 6 and 10 m) on both sides of the road. Traffic densities and relevant meteorological parameters were also measured on-site. We have compared measured concentration data with the predictions of the road network dispersion model CAR-FMI, used in combination with a meteorological pre-processing model MPP-FMI. In comparison with corresponding results presented previously in the literature, the agreement of measured and predicted datasets was good, as measured using various statistical parameters. For all data (N=587), the index of agreement (IA) was 0.83, 0.82 and 0.89 for the measurements of NO_x, NO₂ and O₃, respectively. The IA is a statistical measure of the correlation of the predicted and measured time series of concentrations. However, the modelling system overpredicts NO_x concentrations with a fractional bias FB=+13%, and O₃ concentrations with FB=+8%, while for NO₂ concentrations FB=−2%. We also analyzed the difference between model predictions and measured data in terms of meteorological parameters. Model performance clearly deteriorated as the wind direction approached a direction parallel to the road, and for the lowest wind speeds. The range of variability concerning atmospheric stability, ambient temperature and the amount of solar radiation was modest during the measurement campaign. As expected, no clear dependencies of model performance were therefore detected in terms of these parameters. The experimental dataset is available for the evaluation of other roadside dispersion models.     

Adsorption/thermal desorption-GC/MS for the analysis of pesticides in the atmosphere

An analytical methodology using Automatic Thermal Desorption (ATD) and GC/MS was developed for the determination of the pesticides alachlor, atrazine, captan, formothion, lindane and phosalone in atmospheric samples. This methodology was developed to evaluate the atmospheric contamination by pesticides during treatments and by post-application. Atmospheric samples were collected by using (4 i.d. x 89 mm) stainless steel sampling tubes containing 125 mg of adsorbents at a flow rate of 80 ml min-1. Different types of adsorbents were tested for their ability to efficiently trap pesticides under study: Tenax TA, Carbopack Y, Carbopack B, Carbotrap, Carboxen, Chromosorb 106 and XAD-4. Results of experiment show that Tenax gives the better results for all the pesticides used but the use of the thermal-desorption method, especially for pesticides with low volatility and/or poor thermal stability presents some difficulties. This method was validated by the analysis of the contamination of atmosphere, through volatilization by post-application processes, of atrazine in a parcel of 1 ha.     

Modeling assessment of air emission flux of mercury from soils in terrestrial landscape components: model tests and sensitivities

The abilities of a screening-level model to predict variations in elemental mercury (Hg0) air emissions from soils in terrestrial landscapes are examined by comparing simulation results to published observational data and by performing sensitivity analyses. Despite uncertainties and simplifications, the model results obtained offer some degree of confidence in the model's joint ability to relate readily available environmental parameters to airborne emissions of Hg predicted by coupling simple atmospheric and soil parameters with Hg cycling and transport algorithms. The model reasonably predicted the observational data in the considered data sets except for one site for which significant uncertainty was associated with model input data. Predictions are consistent with many trends observed in the field studies; better predictions were obtained for nonvegetated systems (relative errors between 0.4 and 9.7%) than for shaded-soil landscapes (relative errors between 2.3 and 27%). The model reflected field data showing that daily average emission rates of Hg0, formed by the reduction of Hg(II), are primarily controlled by changes in solar radiation, soil moisture, temperature, and, to a lesser extent, wind conditions. The model may have potential use in several preliminary studies to characterize trends of airborne Hg emitted from terrestrial sources to the atmosphere.     

建筑物对高架点源大气污染物扩散影响的模拟研究

运用数值方法对城市中高架点源排放大气污染物的扩散规律进行了模拟研究,在计算区域内建立了三维数学模型,并将拉格朗日法描述的颗粒轨道模型耦合到风场。本研究计算了地面风速为3 m/s时的大气流场,并模拟研究了该风场条件下气体污染物的扩散和固体颗粒污染物的运动轨迹。通过分析模拟结果,给出了高架点源中排放的气体污染物的扩散区域和固体颗粒污染物运动轨迹的变化规律。     

A Simulation Model for Air Pollution over Connecticut

A different approach to mathematically modeling large-scale atmospheric processes is presented. Whereas past approaches have been to develop a model based on an accumulation of information from a specific geographical area, resulting in a model applicable to that area only, we have developed a general mathematical model applicable to any geographical area. The model’s applicability is controlled by specifying the input information describing the meteorological situation and pollution source configuration. A rectangular array of grid points is used to specify both the wind field, by using stream functions, and the average source strength of some pollutant for the area represented by the grid. The diffusion problem is divided into two areas: transport by the mean wind field, and dispersion based on travel time and distance as described by empirical equations. Trajectories of pollutants are traced backwards from the points of interest in the course of the calculations and the contributions of all sources that affect the points of interest are accumulated. The model requires an array of source strength information. An inventory of pollution sources in the State of Connecticut was compiled and maps of source strengths were prepared for five pollutants on a 5000-ft grid-square array. Maps of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide source strengths are presented with the resulting concentration distribution for “typical” meteorological conditions. The model permits the changing of meteorological or source values at predetermined intervals so that diurnal changes are incorporated in the calculations. The model has not been verified, but the values of pollution concentration are the right order of magnitude and the resulting patterns are as expected.     

冬季沈阳市典型源排放PM_(10)浓度分布模拟分析

选取沈阳市7个典型的大气污染源2006年12月~2007年2月的PM10排放浓度资料,利用CALPUFF对PM10浓度月平均分布做模拟分析。模拟结果分析表明:冬季月平均PM10浓度分布的范围与风场、地形有直接的关系。地势平坦、风速大时,污染物扩散范围大,污染物浓度小;地势不平、风速小时,污染物扩散范围小,污染物浓度大。1月份是沈阳市冬季月平均大气污染最严重的月份,污染物分布主要集中在市区的北部、东部和南部地区,东部地区大气污染最为严重。     

Statistical and diagnostic evaluation of a new-generation urban dispersion modelling system against an extensive dataset in the Helsinki area

We have developed a modelling system for predicting the traffic volumes, emissions from stationary and vehicular sources, and atmospheric dispersion of pollution in an urban area. This paper describes a comparison of the NO_x and NO₂ concentrations predicted using this modelling system with the results of an urban air quality monitoring network. We performed a statistical analysis to determine the agreement between predicted and measured hourly time series of concentrations at four permanently located and three mobile monitoring stations in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in 1996–1997 (at a total of ten urban and suburban measurement locations). At the stations considered, the so-called index of agreement values of the predicted and measured time series of the NO₂ concentrations vary between 0.65 and 0.82, while the fractional bias values range from −0.29 to +0.26. In comparison with corresponding results presented in the literature, the agreement between the measured and predicted datasets is good, as indicated by these statistical parameters. The seasonal variations of the NO₂ concentrations were analysed in terms of the relevant meteorological parameters. We also analysed the difference between model predictions and measured data diagnostically, in terms of meteorological parameters, including wind speed and direction (the latter separately for two wind speed classes), atmospheric stability and ambient temperature, at two monitoring stations in central Helsinki. The modelling system tends to overpredict the measured NO₂ concentrations both at the highest (u⩾6 m s⁻¹) and at the lowest wind speeds (u<2 m s⁻¹). For higher wind speeds, the modelling system overpredicts the measured NO₂ concentrations in certain wind direction intervals; specific ranges were found for both monitoring stations considered. The modelling system tends to underpredict the measured concentrations in convective atmospheric conditions, and overpredict in stable conditions. The possible physico-chemical reasons for these differences are discussed.