Grantee Research Project Results
High-resolution Large-eddy Simulations of Terrain-induced Rotors
EPA Grant Number: F5B10194Title: High-resolution Large-eddy Simulations of Terrain-induced Rotors
Investigators: Bela, Megan
Institution: Stanford University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: January 1, 2006 through March 1, 2007
Project Amount: $57,678
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2005) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Academic Fellowships
Objective:
(1) Investigate and understand the 3-D evolution of terrain-induced rotors, atmospheric phenomena with significant impacts on particulate and pollution transport; and (2) Improve modeling of mesoscale and microscale meterological processes.
Approach:
A large-eddy simulation (LES) numerical model will be used to simulate valley winds to predict the environmental conditions in which terrain-induced rotors occur. These predictions will be used to aid in planning of the Terrain-induced Rotor EXperiment (T-REX) field campaign to be conducted in the Owens Valley of California in spring 2006. T-REX will include a soil moisture sensor network to gather data on soil moisture variability, as well as meterological towers, radiosondes, aircraft measurements, and remote sensing platforms.
The model is based on the ARPS (Advanced Regional Prediction System) mesoscale model, with the addition of a dynamic reconstruction model (DRM) to improve representations of turbulent motions and a high-resolution land-surface model. Simulation results will be compared with T-REX experimental data to develop and implement further model improvements in the representation of land-surface type and conditions.