Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Vertical Tracer Concentration Profiles Measured during the Joint Urban 2003 Dispersion Study

Julia E. Flaherty Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

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Brian Lamb Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

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K. Jerry Allwine Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

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Eugene Allwine Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

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Print Publication:
01 Dec 2007
Collections:
Joint Urban 2003 Experiment (JU2003)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2006JAMC1305.1
Page(s):
2019–2037
Restricted access

Abstract

An atmospheric tracer dispersion study known as Joint Urban 2003 was conducted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during July of 2003. As part of this field program, vertical concentration profiles were measured at approximately 1 km from the downtown ground-level tracer gas release locations. These profiles showed that the urban landscape was very effective in mixing the plume vertically. In general, the lowest concentration measured along the profile was within 50% of the highest concentration in any given 5-min measurement period. The general slope of the concentration profiles was bounded by a Gaussian distribution with Briggs’s urban equations (stability classes D and E/F) for vertical dispersion. However, measured concentration maxima occurred at levels above the surface, which would not be predicted by Gaussian formulations. Variations in tracer concentration observed in the time series between different release periods were related to changes in wind direction as opposed to changes in turbulence. This was demonstrated using data from mobile analyzers that captured the width of the plume by traveling east to west along nearby streets. These mobile-van-analyzer data were also used to compute plume widths. Plume widths increased for wind directions at larger angles to the street grid, and a simple model comprising adjusted open-country dispersion coefficients and a street channeling component, were used to describe the measured widths. This dispersion dataset is a valuable asset not only for developing advanced tools for emergency-response situations in the event of a toxic release but also for refining air-quality models.

* Current affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

Corresponding author address: Julia E. Flaherty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K9-30, Richland, WA 99352. Email: julia.flaherty@pnl.gov

This article included in the Urban 2003 Experiment (JU2003) special collection.

Abstract

An atmospheric tracer dispersion study known as Joint Urban 2003 was conducted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during July of 2003. As part of this field program, vertical concentration profiles were measured at approximately 1 km from the downtown ground-level tracer gas release locations. These profiles showed that the urban landscape was very effective in mixing the plume vertically. In general, the lowest concentration measured along the profile was within 50% of the highest concentration in any given 5-min measurement period. The general slope of the concentration profiles was bounded by a Gaussian distribution with Briggs’s urban equations (stability classes D and E/F) for vertical dispersion. However, measured concentration maxima occurred at levels above the surface, which would not be predicted by Gaussian formulations. Variations in tracer concentration observed in the time series between different release periods were related to changes in wind direction as opposed to changes in turbulence. This was demonstrated using data from mobile analyzers that captured the width of the plume by traveling east to west along nearby streets. These mobile-van-analyzer data were also used to compute plume widths. Plume widths increased for wind directions at larger angles to the street grid, and a simple model comprising adjusted open-country dispersion coefficients and a street channeling component, were used to describe the measured widths. This dispersion dataset is a valuable asset not only for developing advanced tools for emergency-response situations in the event of a toxic release but also for refining air-quality models.

* Current affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

Corresponding author address: Julia E. Flaherty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K9-30, Richland, WA 99352. Email: julia.flaherty@pnl.gov

This article included in the Urban 2003 Experiment (JU2003) special collection.

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