This study utilizes the FLEXPART Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model that was adapted to ingest output from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model. We perform four series of simulations over Iran and surrounding regions. The tests are designed to document FLEXPART's sensitivities to WRF's 1) horizontal resolution, 2) vertical resolution and vertical level configuration, 3) planetary boundary layer (PBL) physics, and 4) the choice of a land surface model (LSM). Twelve 3-day simulations are performed to examine the transport and dispersion (T&D) of CO in complex terrain due to emissions from anthropogenic and biomass burning sources. Structural characteristics of two primary CO plumes are analyzed by computing their dispersion parameters. Then an object-based (OB) verification technique is employed to verify the simulated CO plumes against AIRS satellite-derived plumes. We also present traditional verification statistics (i.e., RMSE) that compare WRF-derived winds and temperatures to observations, as well as an OB verification of precipitation rates against satellite-derived rates. Finally, the vertical structure of the simulated CO plumes produced by fires is qualitatively compared to CALIPSO's satellite-derived aerosol data by assuming that airborne aerosols approximately follow the trajectories of CO emitted by the fires. Verification results indicate a general improvement in the accuracy of wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation rate when increasing WRF's horizontal and, to a lesser extent, its vertical resolution. However, the results suggest that increasing the horizontal resolution to 1.6 km does not add more skill than the simulation using a 2.67-km grid spacing. This lack of further improvement is determined to be an effect of enhanced errors in the lateral boundary conditions (LBC). Results also show that the various PBL schemes and LSMs produce the greatest changes in the meteorological parameters. Comparison of the simulated plumes to satellite-derived plumes reveal marked changes in the accuracy of the T&D simulations. Two primary plumes are considered in the comparisons, one that formed over the Arabian Desert and another that formed in northern Iran. Results show that the ability to replicate both plumes is considerably xii enhanced by increasing WRF's horizontal and vertical resolution. Again, the simulation at 2.67 km resolution produces a better match than the 1.6 km simulation. The greatest improvements occur when the vertical resolution is increased, especially in the PBL. Results from WRF's various PBL options show that the MYJ and ACM2 schemes produce anomalously low PBL heights in desert regions that degrade the simulations' ability to replicate the Arabian Desert CO plume. Conversely, the models' accuracy in simulating the Iranian plume is increased. The RUC LSM increases the verification score due to its more realistic surface sensible heat fluxes compared to the other LSMs. The Pleim-Xiu LSM matches both plumes with similar accuracy as the 5-Layer LSM, whereas the Noah LSM is found to degrade simulation accuracy. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Meteorology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2009. / December 8, 2008. / Sensitivity, Transport and Dispersion modeling, FLEXPART, WRF / Includes bibliographical references. / Henry E. Fuelberg, Professor Directing Thesis; Anil Rao, Committee Member; Xiaolei Zou, Committee Member; Paul Reasor, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_180303 |
| Contributors | Peffers, Luke Thomas (authoraut), Fuelberg, Henry E. (professor directing thesis), Rao, Anil (committee member), Zou, Xiaolei (committee member), Reasor, Paul (committee member), Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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