Abstract
Thermal internal boundary layers in onshore air flows have a significant influence on pollutant diffusion in coastal areas. Although several models for this diffusion problem exist, measurements for model verification are scarce. In this paper, we present a set of wind tunnel observations and examine the performance of a Lagrangian stochastic model. The good agreement between the model simulation and the tunnel measurements confirms the usefulness of the Lagrangian stochastic model for practical purposes. Sensitivity tests of the model to turbulence statistics show that uncertainty in velocity skewness to the extent of observational scatter does not seem to have a significant influence on pollutant dispersion, while uncertainties in turbulence intensity (variance) significantly influence the dispersion pattern.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baerentsen, J. H. and Berkowicz, Z.: 1984, 'Monte Carlo Simulation of Plume Dispersion in the Convective Boundary Layer', Atmos. Environ. 18, 701-712.
Caughey, S. J. and Palmer, S. G.: 1979, 'Some Aspects of Turbulence Structure Through the Depth of the Convective Boundary Layer', Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 105, 811-827.
Deardorff, J. W. and Willis, G. E.: 1982, 'Ground-level Concentrations due to Fumigatrion into an Entraining Mixed Layer', Atmos. Environ. 16, 1159-1170.
Du, S., Wilson, J. W., and Yee, E.: 1994, 'Probability Density Function for Velocity in Convective Boundary Layer and Implied Trajectory Models', Atmos. Environ. 28, 1211-1217.
Durand, P., Briere, S., and Druilhet, A.: 1989, 'A Sea-Land Transition Observed During the COAST Experiment', J. Atmos. Sci. 46, 96-116.
Hibberd, M. F. and Luhar, A. K.: 1996, 'A Laboratory Study and Improved PDF Model of Fumigation into a Growing Convective Boundary Layer', Atmos. Environ. 30, 3633-3649.
Lenschow, D. H., Wyngaard, J. C., and Pennell, W. T.: 1980, 'Mean-Field and Second-Moment Budgets in a Baroclinic, Convective Boundary Layer', J. Atmos. Sci. 37, 1313-1326.
Luhar, A. and Sawford, B. L.: 1995a, 'Lagrangian Stochastic Modelling of the Coastal Fumigation Phenomenon', J. Appl. Meteorol. 34, 2259-2277.
Luhar, A. and Sawford, B. L.: 1995b, 'An Examination of Existing Shoreline Fumigation Models and Formulation of an Improved Model', Atmos. Environ. 30, 609-620.
Luhar, A., Hibberd, M. F., and Hurley, P. J.: 1996, 'Comparison of Closure Schemes used to Specify the Velocity PDF in Lagrangian Stochastic Dispersion Models for Convective Conditions', Atmos. Environ. 30, 1407-1418.
Lyons, W. A. and Cole, H. S.: 1973, 'Fumigation and Plume Trapping on the Shores of Lake Michigan During Stable Onshore Flow', J. Appl. Meteorol. 12, 494-510.
Misra, P. K.: 1980, 'Dispersion from Tall Stacks into a Shoreline Environment', Atmos. Environ. 14, 396-400.
Ohba, R., Kasishima, S., and Ito: S.: 1991, 'Water Tank Experiment of Gas Diffusion from a Stack in Stably and Unstably Stratified Layers Under Calm Conditions', Atmos. Environ. 25, 2063-2076.
Raynor, G. S., Sethuraman, S., and Brown, R. M.: 1979, 'Formation and Characteristics of Coastal Internal Boundary Layer During Onshore Flows', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 16, 487-514.
Shao, Y.: 1990, 'Turbulence and Turbulent Diffusion in a Coastal Atmospheric Boundary Layer', Ph.D thesis, Flinders University of South Australia, pp.1-200.
Shao, Y.: 1992, 'Turbulent Dispersion in Coastal Atmospheric Boundary Layers: an Application of a Lagrangian Model', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 59, 363-385.
Shao, Y., Hacker, J.M., and Schwerdtfeger, P.: 1991, 'The Structure of Turbulence in a Coastal Atmospheric Boundary Layer', Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 117, 1299-1324.
Smedman, A. S. and Högström, U.: 1983, 'Turbulent Characteristics of a Shallow Convective Internal Boundary Layer', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 25, 271-287.
Stunder, M. J. and SethuRaman, S.: 1986, 'A Statistical Evaluation and Comparison of Coastal Point Source Dispersion Models', Atmos. Environ. 34, 301-315.
Thomson, D. J.: 1987, 'Criteria for the Selection of Stochastic Models of Particle Trajectories in Turbulent Flows', J. Fluid Mech. 180, 529-556.
Venkatram, A.: 1986, 'An Examination of Methods to Estimate the Height of the Coastal Internal Boundary Layer', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 36, 149-156.
Weil, J. C.: 1990, 'A Diagnosis of the Asymmetry in Top-Down and Bottom-Up Diffusion Using a Lagrangian Stochastic Model', J. Atmos. Sci. 47, 501-515.
Weisman, B.: 1976, 'On the Criteria for the Occurrence of Fumigation Inland from a Large Lake - A Reply', Atmos. Environ. 12, 172-173.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ohba, R., Shao, Y. & Kouchi, A. A Wind Tunnel and Numerical Investigation of Turbulent Dispersion in Coastal Atmospheric Boundary Layers. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 87, 255–273 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1000941406502
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1000941406502