The mixing layer (ML) heights inferred from radiosondes, wind profilers, airborne lidar, airborne microwave temperature profiler (MTP), and in-situ aircraft data were compared during the Texas 2000 Air Quality Study in the Houston area. The comparisons and resulting good agreement between the separate instruments allowed for the spatial and temporal evolution of the ML height distribution to be determined across the Houston area on September 1, 2000. A benchmark method was created for determining ML heights from radiosonde data. The ML heights determined using this method were compared to ML heights determined using wind profiler data. The airborne lidar and MTP heights were also compared to the wind profiler heights. This was the first time the MTP was used for estimating ML heights. Because of this, the MTP heights were also compared to the ML heights determined by in-situ aircraft data. There was good agreement between the ML estimates when the instruments were co-located. The comparisons between the benchmark method and the wind profilers were independent of the quality of the profiler heights. The statistics for lidar and the wind profilers were better for the inland profiler comparisons. Even so, the results for coastal profilers were similar to the other comparisons. The results between the MTP and the wind profilers were comparable with the results found between the other instruments, and better, in that the statistics were similar for the both the inland and coastal profilers. The results between the MTP and in-situ aircraft data provided additional support for the use of MTP for determining ML heights. The combination of the inland and coastal wind profilers with the airborne instruments provided adequate information for the spatial and temporal evolution of the ML height to be determined across the Houston area on September 1, 2000. By analyzing the ML height distribution, major features were evident. These features included the shallow ML heights associated with the marine air from Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and the sharp gradient of increasing ML heights north of Houston associated with the variation in the inversion depth found on this day.

As part of the ONR sponsored Coupled Boundary Layer/Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) experiment, data from the NOAA WP-3D research aircraft measurements into major Hurricanes in the 2002-2004 seasons are analyzed to investigate the structure of the boundary layer. The turbulent fluxes of momentum and enthalpy are derived using the eddy correlation method. For the first time, the momentum and enthalpy fluxes were directly measured in the boundary layer of a hurricane with wind speeds up to 30 m/s. A new bulk parameterization of the momentum and enthalpy flux is developed. The vertical structure of turbulence and fluxes are presented for the entire boundary layer in the rain free region between the outer rainbands. The turbulent kinetic energy budget was estimated for the hurricane boundary layer between the outer rainbands. The universal spectra and cospectra of the wind velocity, temperature and humidity are also derived. A case study on the effects of roll vortices on the turbulent fluxes is conducted, which confirmed the existence of the boundary layer rolls and gave the first estimate of their modulation of the momentum and sensible heat flux. The CBLAST data provided an invaluable perspective on the evaluation and development of the boundary layer parameterization suited for the hurricane models. Studies on entrainment processes above of the mixed layer and turbulent transport processes induced by the inflow are recommended in the future.

Vertical mixing is an important process that relates surface fluxes to concentrations of pollutants and other chemical species in the atmosphere. Errors in vertical mixing have been identified as a major source of uncertainties in various atmospheric modeling efforts including tracer transport, weather forecasting, and regional climate simulation. This thesis aims to quantify uncertainties in model-derived mixed layer heights (zi) over North America through direct comparisons between radiosonde observations and four models at different months of the year 2004 through the bulk Richardson number method. Results of this study suggest that considerable errors in zi exist throughout the region with the spatial and temporal variations of the errors differ significantly among the selected models. Over all, errors in zi were larger in global models than in the limited area mesoscale models, and the magnitude of the random error was two times larger than the bias. Notably, spatial regions of with extremely large positive biases correspond to those with especially large random errors. The biases and random errors, however, were not correlated linearly nor can be easily used to predict each other. Uncertainties in model-derived zi were attributed, through errors in the bulk Richardson number, to temperature and horizontal winds. Errors in both horizontal winds and temperatures were found contributing more or less the same to uncertainties in zi, with relative errors in both variables being the greatest in the lowest part of the troposphere. Lastly, independent observations from the cooperative profiler network suggest that data assimilation did not add qualitative advantages for the comparisons presented in this study. The mixed layer height uncertainties demonstrated in this study may provide a guide for selecting a model to simulate regional scale atmospheric transport and for interpreting flux estimation and inversions studies.

Vertical mixing is an important process that relates surface fluxes to concentrations of pollutants and other chemical species in the atmosphere. Errors in vertical mixing have been identified as a major source of uncertainties in various atmospheric modeling efforts including tracer transport, weather forecasting, and regional climate simulation. This thesis aims to quantify uncertainties in model-derived mixed layer heights (zi) over North America through direct comparisons between radiosonde observations and four models at different months of the year 2004 through the bulk Richardson number method. Results of this study suggest that considerable errors in zi exist throughout the region with the spatial and temporal variations of the errors differ significantly among the selected models. Over all, errors in zi were larger in global models than in the limited area mesoscale models, and the magnitude of the random error was two times larger than the bias. Notably, spatial regions of with extremely large positive biases correspond to those with especially large random errors. The biases and random errors, however, were not correlated linearly nor can be easily used to predict each other. Uncertainties in model-derived zi were attributed, through errors in the bulk Richardson number, to temperature and horizontal winds. Errors in both horizontal winds and temperatures were found contributing more or less the same to uncertainties in zi, with relative errors in both variables being the greatest in the lowest part of the troposphere. Lastly, independent observations from the cooperative profiler network suggest that data assimilation did not add qualitative advantages for the comparisons presented in this study. The mixed layer height uncertainties demonstrated in this study may provide a guide for selecting a model to simulate regional scale atmospheric transport and for interpreting flux estimation and inversions studies.

No description available.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are naturally occurring organic compounds emitted by plants, trees, and ecosystems, exerting a profound influence on the Earth's atmosphere, air quality, climate, and ecosystem dynamics. This research project aims to advance our understanding of BVOC emissions and their implications through a comprehensive and multi-faceted investigation. We investigate the dynamics of BVOCs in the atmosphere through three key objectives. First, we introduce a novel enriching inlet that uses selective permeation to preconcentrate reactive organic gases in small sample flows for atmospheric gas sampling, enhancing the sensitivity and detection limits of analytical instruments. Enrichments between 4640% and 111% were measured for major reactive atmospheric gases at ultra low flow rates and roughly several hundred percent for ambient samples at moderately low flow rates. Second, we constrain light-dependency in BVOC emissions models by comparing modeled and long-term observed BVOC concentrations measured at a mid-canopy monitoring site in a southeastern US forest. The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) and the Framework for 0-D Atmospheric Modeling (F0AM) were utilized to simulate emissions and chemical transformations, respectively to disentangle the time- and species-specificity of light dependency for various BVOC (α-pinene, camphene, and α-fenchene are completely light-independent and limonene, β-thujene, sabinene, and γ-terpinene are seasonally light-dependent). Finally, we examine these models deeper to investigate uncertainties and highlight current limitations due to variability in planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) datasets. We highlight the significance of simultaneous PBLH and BVOC measurements for improving the accuracy of BVOC concentration models. We show that a lack of co-located measurements is a large source of uncertainty in modeling BVOC concentrations. The successful completion of these objectives contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between BVOC emissions and atmospheric chemistry. / Doctor of Philosophy / Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are natural chemicals released by plants, trees, and ecosystems. They interact with combustion emissions such as those from vehicles (nitrous oxides or NOX species) in the presence of light to produce secondary pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter which significantly affect human health, Earth's atmosphere, air quality, climate, and ecosystems. This research aims to deepen our understanding of BVOC emissions and their effects through a detailed study of measurement and modeling techniques used to study BVOC. We accomplish this via three main goals. First, we introduce a new method to enhance the detection of reactive gases in small air samples, improving the sensitivity of currently available analytical instruments. This method showed significant improvements in detecting key atmospheric gases. Second, we examine how BVOC emissions depend on light by comparing models with long-term observations from a forest in the southeastern US. We used two models, Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) and Framework for 0-D Atmospheric Modeling (F0AM), to simulate emissions and chemical changes, revealing that some BVOC emissions are completely light-independent processes, while others depend on the season. Finally, we examine these models deeper to investigate the uncertainties due to variability in planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) datasets (the layer of air closest to the Earth's surface where pollutants are concentrated). We show that a lack of BVOC and PBLH measurements made at the same location is a large source of uncertainty in modeling BVOC concentrations. Achieving these goals will enhance our understanding of the complex interactions between BVOC emissions and atmospheric chemistry.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第19986号 / 工博第4230号 / 新制||工||1654(附属図書館) / 33082 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 酒井 伸一, 教授 米田 稔, 准教授 平井 康宏 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Este estudo explora a obtenção da altura da camada limite planetária a partir de diferentes métodos e equipamentos, com foco na análise espectral do campo de vento do lidar Doppler. Realizou-se uma campanha de medição por 80 dias com dois lidars Dopplers comerciais com diferentes alcances verticais. Para o lidar com maior alcance vertical e consequetemente uma medida direta da altura da camada limite planetária, foi aplicado o método da variância da razão sinal-ruído e os resultados foram comparados aos valores de altura estimados a partir de dados de radiossondagem através de dois métodos distintos, o método da parcela e o método do número de Richardson bulk, o qual apresentou melhores resultados. Para o lidar com menor alcance vertical, aplicou-se a análise espectral que forneceu valores de comprimento de onda dos picos espectrais, proporcionais à altura da camada limite planetária. A constante de proporcionalidade para obtenção dos valores da altura da camada foi calculada comparando-se os resultados aos valores de altura estimados pela radiossondagem através do método do número de Richardson bulk, obtendo-se um valor de constante de proporcionalidade próximo ao sugerido na literatura. Entretanto, o conjunto de dados que mostrou boas estimativas dos picos espectrais foi bastante restrito, limitando a comparação ao longo do período entre os lidars. / This study explores the obtaining of the planetary boundary layer height through different methods and equipment, focusing on the spectral analysis of the wind field from Doppler lidar. An 80-day measurement campaign was conducted with two commercial Doppler lidars with different vertical ranges. For the lidar with greater vertical range and consequently a direct measurement of the planetary boundary layer heigth, the method of signal-to-noise ratio variance was applied and the results were compared to the height values estimated from radiosonding data using two different methods, the parcel method and the bulk Richardson number method, which presented better results. For the lidar with a lower vertical range, spectral analysis was applied, which provided wavelength values of the spectral peak, proportional to the planetary boundary layer height. The proportionality constant, in order to obtain the boundary height values, were calculated by comparing the height values estimated from the radiosonding data, using the bulk Richardson number method. Proportionality constant value close to the one found in the literature were obtained. However, the set of data that showed good estimates of the spectral peaks was very restricted, limiting the comparison over the period between the lidars.

Este estudo explora a obtenção da altura da camada limite planetária a partir de diferentes métodos e equipamentos, com foco na análise espectral do campo de vento do lidar Doppler. Realizou-se uma campanha de medição por 80 dias com dois lidars Dopplers comerciais com diferentes alcances verticais. Para o lidar com maior alcance vertical e consequetemente uma medida direta da altura da camada limite planetária, foi aplicado o método da variância da razão sinal-ruído e os resultados foram comparados aos valores de altura estimados a partir de dados de radiossondagem através de dois métodos distintos, o método da parcela e o método do número de Richardson bulk, o qual apresentou melhores resultados. Para o lidar com menor alcance vertical, aplicou-se a análise espectral que forneceu valores de comprimento de onda dos picos espectrais, proporcionais à altura da camada limite planetária. A constante de proporcionalidade para obtenção dos valores da altura da camada foi calculada comparando-se os resultados aos valores de altura estimados pela radiossondagem através do método do número de Richardson bulk, obtendo-se um valor de constante de proporcionalidade próximo ao sugerido na literatura. Entretanto, o conjunto de dados que mostrou boas estimativas dos picos espectrais foi bastante restrito, limitando a comparação ao longo do período entre os lidars. / This study explores the obtaining of the planetary boundary layer height through different methods and equipment, focusing on the spectral analysis of the wind field from Doppler lidar. An 80-day measurement campaign was conducted with two commercial Doppler lidars with different vertical ranges. For the lidar with greater vertical range and consequently a direct measurement of the planetary boundary layer heigth, the method of signal-to-noise ratio variance was applied and the results were compared to the height values estimated from radiosonding data using two different methods, the parcel method and the bulk Richardson number method, which presented better results. For the lidar with a lower vertical range, spectral analysis was applied, which provided wavelength values of the spectral peak, proportional to the planetary boundary layer height. The proportionality constant, in order to obtain the boundary height values, were calculated by comparing the height values estimated from the radiosonding data, using the bulk Richardson number method. Proportionality constant value close to the one found in the literature were obtained. However, the set of data that showed good estimates of the spectral peaks was very restricted, limiting the comparison over the period between the lidars.