Evolution of perturbations in 3D air quality models

The deterministic approach of sensitivity analysis is applied on the solution vector of an Air Quality Model. In particular, the photochemical CAMx code is augmented with derivatives utilising the automatic differentiation software ADIFOR. The enhanced with derivatives version of the model is then adopted in a study of the effect of perturbations at the boundary conditions on the predicted ozone concentrations. The calculated derivative matrix provides valuable information e.g., on the ordering of the infl uential factors or the localisation of highly affected regions. Two fundamentally different domains of the Auto-Oil II programme were used as test cases for the simulations, namely Athens and Milan. The results suggest that ozone concentration be highly affected by its own boundary conditions and subsequently, with an order of magnitude less, by the boundary conditions of NOX and VOC

Research and Technology Highlights 1995

The mission of the NASA Langley Research Center is to increase the knowledge and capability of the United States in a full range of aeronautics disciplines and in selected space disciplines. This mission is accomplished by performing innovative research relevant to national needs and Agency goals, transferring technology to users in a timely manner, and providing development support to other United States Government agencies, industry, other NASA Centers, the educational community, and the local community. This report contains highlights of the major accomplishments and applications that have been made by Langley researchers and by our university and industry colleagues during the past year. The highlights illustrate both the broad range of research and technology (R&T) activities carried out by NASA Langley Research Center and the contributions of this work toward maintaining United States leadership in aeronautics and space research. An electronic version of the report is available at URL http://techreports.larc.nasa.gov/RandT95. This color version allows viewing, retrieving, and printing of the highlights, searching and browsing through the sections, and access to an on-line directory of Langley researchers

Influence of uncertainties in vertical mixing algorithms on an air quality model

Vertical diffusion of trace pollutants is a very important physical process that influences pollutant concentrations. However, there are large uncertainties in the numerical modeling of this process, which could affect model predictions of pollutant levels and their responsiveness to emission controls. Uncertainties could result from the formulation of vertical diffusion schemes or from errors in eddy diffusivity and dry deposition velocity parameters associated with this process. Inter-comparisons between different model configurations and sensitivity analysis of model parameters can be used to help quantify these uncertainties. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of two vertical diffusion schemes, EDDY and ACM2, was performed by comparing ground-level concentrations and vertical profiles generated using the CMAQ model with measurement data from the Texas Air Quality Study II. In addition, new capabilities of conducting sensitivity analysis to dry deposition velocity and eddy diffusivity were implemented into the CMAQ-DDM model. The results show that the ACM2 scheme tends to predict larger secondary pollutant concentrations and smaller primary pollutant concentrations at the surface compared to the EDDY scheme. Differences between the two vertical diffusion schemes and uncertainties in dry deposition velocity may cause temporal variations in the responsiveness of ozone to both NOx and VOC control respectively

The Distribution of Atmospheric Pollutants in Europe: Optimal Use of Models and Observations with a Data Assimilation Approach

The research activity presented in this manuscript deals with the implementation of a methodology to merge in an optimal way atmospheric modelling and observations at different spatial scales. In particular, we approached the problem of assimilation of ground measurements and satellite columnar data and how the Data Assimilation (DA) could improve the chemical transport model (CTMs) and correct biases and errors in the chemical species forecast. The work focused on tropospheric ozone and the species linked to its formation, since they play a crucial role in chemical processes during photochemical pollution events. The study was carried out implementing and applying an Optimal Interpolation (OI) DA technique in the air quality model BOLCHEM and the CHIMERE CTM. The OI routine was chosen because it has given satisfactory results in air quality modelling and because it is relatively simple and computationally inexpensive. In the first part of the study we evaluated the improvement in the capability of regional model BOLCHEM to reproduce the distribution of tropospheric pollutants, using the assimilation of surface chemical observations. Among the many causes of uncertainties of CTMs simulations, a particular focus is given by uncertainties in emissions, that are known to be high. The scientific purpose was to analyse the efficacy of DA in correcting the biases due to perturbed emission. The work was performed using an Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE), which allowed the quantification of assimilation impact, through comparison with a reference state. Different sensitivity tests were carried out in order to identify how assimilation can correct perturbations on O3, induced by NOx emissions biased in flux intensity and time. Tests were performed assimilating different species, varying assimilation time window length and starting hour of assimilation. Emissions were biased quantitatively up to ± 50% and shifted temporally up to ± 2 hours. The analysis brought to the conclusions that NO2 assimilation significantly improves O3 maxima during the assimilation, making it almost independent on different emission scenarios. The assimilation impact lasts up to 36-40 hours after the end of the assimilation window. This is a considerable result, especially when it is taken into account that DA generally yields significantly better forecasts in the 6-12 hours range, but improvements vanish afterwards. The NO2 night-time chemistry has the role of maintaining the correction of O3 due to assimilation also in the following day. Assimilating NO2 and O3 simultaneously bring to rather better results, although the benefit lasts only a few hours after the end of the assimilation window. It was found that the best results are achieved assimilating observations during the photochemically active period (06-18 UTC). It was also found that temporally biased NOx emissions only slightly perturb O3 concentration during the photochemically active regime, while the perturbation is larger during night-time. Assimilation has a very low impact during the assimilation window and a negligible impact after its end. The second part of PhD research activity dealt with the evaluation of the impact of assimilation of satellite NO2 tropospheric columns on the distribution of pollutants at the ground level during photochemical pollution events at continental scale. In particular, we focused on the assimilation of observations from SCIAMACHY and from OMI, and its effect on ozone in the lowermost troposphere in Europe. For an effective improvement in assimilated fields it is particularly important the consistency between satellite and model resolution. SCIAMACHY and OMI have a considerable difference in spatial and temporal resolution, allowing to test the role of data resolution on the effectiveness of assimilation. The role of data resolution on the effectiveness of assimilation was investigated also changing the model resolutions. It was found the perturbation on NO2 field due to assimilation causes a modification on ozone field that appears more spatially variable and higher in some photochemical polluted areas. Similar effects are detected both for SCIAMACHY and OMI assimilation. Significative effects of assimilation on ozone can be appreciate in polluted areas at local scale. Focusing on specific subdomains, it was found that the effect of assimilation lasts, in general, 8 hours and in few cases until the reactivation of active photochemical period in the following day. This is a strong impact, considering that assimilation is performed at most once a day and it is probably linked to the model underestimate of ozone and its precursors in polluted areas with respect to those measured by SCIAMACHY and OMI. In wide and highly polluted areas assimilation achieves satisfactory results, comparing simulated ground ozone with independent ground measurements. In that region where OMI assimilation in the coarse and fine resolution simulations and SCIAMACHY assimilation were confronted, we could conclude that these different assimilation set-up are almost similar. Whereas, in more localised polluted areas (i.e. comparable to model and satellite resolution), OMI assimilation in the finer resolution simulation performs better with respect to OMI assimilation in the coarse resolution simulation and SCIAMACHY assimilation. As a general conclusive statement, assimilation can be an important tool to make the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants more realistic and closer to the specific local differences with the caveat of horizontal resolution of the assimilated columns and model simulations

Aeronautical Engineering: A Continuing Bibliography with Indexes

This supplemental issue of Aeronautical Engineering, A Continuing Bibliography with Indexes (NASA/SP-1999-7037) lists reports, articles, and other documents recently announced in the NASA STI Database. The coverage includes documents on the engineering and theoretical aspects of design, construction, evaluation, testing, operation, and performance of aircraft (including aircraft engines) and associated components, equipment, and systems. It also includes research and development in aerodynamics, aeronautics, and ground support equipment for aeronautical vehicles. Each entry in the publication consists of a standard bibliographic citation accompanied, in most cases, by an abstract. Two indexes-subject and author are included after the abstract section

Aeronautical Engineering: A Continuing Bibliography with Indexes

This report lists reports, articles and other documents recently announced in the NASA STI Database. The coverage includes documents on the engineering and theoretical aspects of design, construction, evaluation, testing, operation, and performance of aircraft (including aircraft engines) and associated components, equipment, and systems. It also includes research and development in aerodynamics, aeronautics, and ground support equipment for aeronautical vehicles. Each entry in the publication consists of a standard bibliographic citation accompanied, in most cases, by an abstract

Transportation R and D included in thermal and mechanical sciences program

Argonne National Laboratory is a multiprogram research and development laboratory operated by The University of Chicago for the US Department of Energy. At Argonne, applied research in thermal and mechanical sciences is performed within the Thermal and Mechanical Sciences Section of the Energy Technology Division. Current program areas include compact evaporators and condensers for the process and transportation industries, ice slurries for district cooling, advanced fluids for improved heat transfer and reduced pressure drop, flow-induced vibration and flow distribution in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and dynamics and control of maglev systems. In general, the objective of the research is to extend the technology base in each of these areas and to facilitate its application in solving problems of importance to US industries and utilities. This is accomplished by developing validated design correlations and predictive methods. The staff of the Thermal and Mechanical Sciences Section have extensive experimental and analytical experience in heat transfer, multiphase flow, structural dynamics and control, fluid-structure interaction, transient flow and mixing, thermally driven flows, and flow visualization using ultra-high-speed video. Large, general-purpose test facilities and smaller, single-purpose test apparatuses are available for experiments and component design evaluation. A world-class capability in the study of flow-induced vibrations exists within the Section. Individual fact sheets, describing currently active research program areas, related facilities, and listing, as a contact, the principal investigator, are included

A conceptual framework for power generation technology management for developing countries.

Most of the current approaches of technology management emphasis on the need of systematic technology management in both strategic and operational perspectives. The majority of developing countries have a problem to manage technology systematically and fail to implement management techniques effectively. There is a big gap between developed and developing countries in most fields of technology and the power generation sector is among them. The goal of this research work is to develop a conceptual framework for power generation technology management for developing countries. Also to draw a systematic guide lines and clear strategy to help decision makers to optimise their decisions to save resources and less harming to climate. In this work, a systematic approach is developed to select a suitable hard technology for power generation technologies selection using the AHP software. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to show how the decision is affected with the change in criteria and sub-criteria. After this objective is achieved, some other soft technologies are identified with their limits and integrated with hard technologies for power generation. A validation of the proposed model is provided using the questionnaire technique