Spatially-varying surface roughness and ground-level air quality in an operational dispersion model

Barnes, Matthew and Brade, Thomas K. and Mackenzie, A. Robert and Whyatt, Duncan and Carruthers, D. J. and Stocker, Jenny and Cai, X. and Hewitt, C. N. (2014) Spatially-varying surface roughness and ground-level air quality in an operational dispersion model. Environmental Pollution, 185. pp. 44-51. ISSN 0269-7491

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Abstract

Urban form controls the overall aerodynamic roughness of a city, and hence plays a significant role in how air flow interacts with the urban landscape. This paper reports improved model performance resulting from the introduction of variable surface roughness in the operational air-quality model ADMS-Urban (v3.1). We then assess to what extent pollutant concentrations can be reduced solely through local reductions in roughness. The model results suggest that reducing surface roughness in a city centre can increase ground-level pollutant concentrations, both locally in the area of reduced roughness and downwind of that area. The unexpected simulation of increased ground-level pollutant concentrations implies that this type of modelling should be used with caution for urban planning and design studies looking at ventilation of pollution. We expect the results from this study to be relevant for all atmospheric dispersion models with urban-surface parameterisations based on roughness.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Environmental Pollution
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2310
Subjects:
?? air qualityadms-urbanaerodynamic roughnessstreet canyonsurban breathabilitypollutionhealth, toxicology and mutagenesistoxicology ??
ID Code:
67617
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
20 Nov 2013 16:08
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
11 Sep 2024 13:00