References

ACP

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

ACP

1680-7324

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acp-9-4467-2009

Exploring atmospheric boundary layer characteristics in a severe SO2 episode in the north-eastern Adriatic

Prtenjak

M. T.

¹ Jeričević

² Kraljević

² Bulić

I. H.

¹ Nitis

³ Klaić

Z. B.

Andrija Mohorovičić Geophysical Institute, Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia

Laboratory of Geoinformatics and Environmental Application, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece

13 07 2009

9 13 4467 4483

This is an open-access article ditributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

This article is available from http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/4467/2009/acp-9-4467-2009.html

The full text article is available as a PDF file from http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/4467/2009/acp-9-4467-2009.pdf

Stable atmospheric conditions are often connected with the occurrence of high pollution episodes especially in urban or industrial areas. In this work we investigate a severe SO2 episode observed on 3–5 February 2002 in a coastal industrial town of Rijeka, Croatia, where very high daily mean concentrations (up to 353.5 μg m−3) were measured. The episode occurred under high air pressure conditions, which were accompanied with a fog and low wind speeds. Three air quality models (50-km EMEP model, 10-km EMEP4HR model and 1-km CAMx model) were used to simulate SO2 concentrations fields and to evaluate the relative contribution of distant and local pollution sources to observed concentrations. Results suggest that the episode was caused predominately by local sources. Furthermore, using three-dimensional, higher-order turbulence closure mesoscale meteorological model (WRF), the wind regimes and thermo-dynamical structure of the lower troposphere above the greater Rijeka area (GRA) were examined in detail. Modelled atmospheric fields suggest several factors whose simultaneous acting was responsible for elevated SO2 concentrations. Established small scale wind directions supported the transport of air from nearby industrial areas with major pollution sources towards Rijeka. This transport was associated with strong, ground-based temperature inversion and correspondingly, very low mixing layer (at most up to about 140 m). Additionally, the surface winds in Rijeka were light or almost calm thus, preventing ventilation of polluted air. Finally, a vertical circulation cell formed between the mainland and a nearby island, supported the air subsidence and the increase of static stability.

References 1

% vor jede Referenz Baklanov, A. and Grisogono, B.: Amospheric boundary layers: nature, theory and applications to environmental modeling and security, Springer, 241~pp., 2007.

Bott, A.: A positive definite advection scheme obtained by non-linear renoramlization of the advection fluxes, Mon. Weather Rev., 117, 1006–1015, 1989a.

Bott, A.: A positive definite advection scheme obtained by nonlinear renormalization of the advective fluxes – reply, Mon. Weather Rev., 117, 2633–2636, 1989b.

Brulfert, G., Chemel, C., Chaxel, E., and Chollet, J. P.: Modelling photochemistry in alpine valleys, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 2341–2355, 2005.

de Foy, B., Lei, W., Zavala, M., Volkamer, R., Samuelsson, J., Mellqvist, J., Galle, B., Martínez, A.-P., Grutter, M., Retama, A., and Molina, L. T.: Modelling constraints on the emission inventory and on vertical dispersion for CO and SO2 in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area using Solar FTIR and zenith sky UV spectroscopy, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 781–801, 2007.

De Leeuw, F. A. A. M. and Leyssius, H. J. V.: Long-range transport modelling of air pollution episodes, Environ. Health Perspect., 79, 53–59, 1989.

Drobinski, P., Said, F., Arteta, J., Augustin, P., Bastin, S., Brut, A., Caccia, J. L., Campistron, B., Cautenet, S., Colette, A., Coll, I., Corsmeier, U., Cros, B., Dabas, A., Delbarre, H., Dufour, A., Durand, P., Guenard, V., Hasel, M., Kalthoff, N., Kottmeier, C., Lasry, F., Lemonsu, A., Lohou, F., Masson, V., Menut, L., Moppert, C., Peuch, V. H., Puygrenier, V., Reitebuch, O., and Vautard, R.: Regional transport and dilution during high-pollution episodes in southern France: Summary of findings from the Field Experiment to Constraint Models of Atmospheric Pollution and Emissions Transport (ESCOMPTE), J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. 112, D13105, doi:10.1029/2006JD007494, 2007.

ENVIRON: User's guide: CAMx comprehensive Air Quality model with Exstensions, Version 4.50. ENVIRON International Corporation, Novato, CA, 2008.

Evtyugina, M. G., Nunes, T., Pio, C., and Costa, C. S.: Photochemical pollution under sea breeze conditions, during summer, at the Portuguese West Coast, Atmos. Environ., 40, 6277–6293, 2006.

Fagerli, H., Simpson, D., and Tsyro, S. Unified EMEP model: Updates Transboundary acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone in Europe. EMEP Status Report 1/2004, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway, 11–18, 2004.

Fisher, B., Joffre, S., Kukkonen, J., Piringer, M., Rotach, M. W., and Schatzmann, M. (Eds.): Meteorology applied to Urban Air Pollution Problems, Final Report COST Action 715, Demetra Ltd. Publishers, Bulgaria, 2005.

Geleyn, J. F., Banciu, D., Bubnova, R., Ihasz, I., Ivanovici, V., LeMoigne P., and Radnoti, G.: The International Project ALADIN: Summary of Events October 1992–October 1993, LAM Newsletter 23, 1992.

Gery, M. W., Whitten, G. Z., Killus, J. P., and Dodge, M. C.: A photochemical kinetics mechanism for urban and regional scale computer modelling, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 925–956, 1989.

Grisogono, B., Kraljevi\'c, L., and Jeri\ucevi\'c, A.: The low-level katabatic jet height versus Monin-Obukhov height, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 133, 2133–2136, 2007.

Jeri\ucevi\'c, A., Špoler \uCani\'c K., and Vidi\uc, S.: Prediction of stability and mixing height in the complex orography, Cro. Meteorol. J., 39, 3–14, 2004.

Jeri\ucevi\'c, A., Kraljevi\'c, L., Vidi\uc, S., and Tarrason, L.: Project description: High resolution environmental modelling and evaluation programme for Croatia (EMEP4HR), Geofizika, 24, 137–143, online available at: http://geofizika-journal.gfz.hr/abs24_2.htm#25, 2007.

Jimenez-Guerrero, P., Jorba, O., Baidasanoa, J. M., and Gasso, S.: The use of a modelling system as a tool for air quality management: Annual high-resolution simulations and evaluation, Science Total Environ., 390, 323–340, 2008.

Kain, J. S., Weiss, S. J., Levit, J. J., Baldwin, M. E., and Bright, D. R.: Examination of convection-allowing configurations of the WRF model for the prediction of severe convective weather: The SPC/NSSL Spring Program 2004, Weather Forecast., 21, 167–181, 2006.

Klai\'c, Z.: A Lagrangian one-layer model of long-range transport of SO2, Atmos. Envrion., 24A, 1861–1867, 1990.

Klai\'c, Z.: A Lagrangian model of long-range transport of sulphur with the diurnal variations of some model parameters, J. Appl. Meteorol., 35, 574–585, 1996.

Klai\'c, Z. B.: Assesment of wintertime atmospheric input of European sulfur to the eastern Adriatic, Nuovo Cimento, 26C, 1–6, 2003.

Klai\'c, Z. B and Beširevi\'c, S.: Modelled sulphur depositions over Croatia, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys., 65, 133–138, 1998.

Klai\'c, Z. B., Beluši\'c, D., Grubiši\'c, V., Gabela, L., and \'Coso, L.: Mesoscale airflow structure over the northern Croatian coast during MAP IOP 15 – a major bora event, Geofizika, 20, 23–61, 2003.

Klai\'c, Z. B., Pasari\'c, Z., and Tudor, M.: On the interplay between sea-land breezes and Etesian winds over the Adriatic, J. Marine Syst., in press, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2009.01.016, 2009.

Levy, I., Dayan, U., and Mahrer, Y.: A five-year study of coastal recirculation and its effect on air pollutants over the East Mediterranean region, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos, 113, D16121, doi:10.1029/2007JD009529, 2008.

Mahrt, L. and Vickers, D.: Extremely weak mixing in stable conditions, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 119, 19–39, 2006.

Mahrt, L.: The influence of nonstationarity on the turbulent flux-gradient relationship for stable stratification, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 125, 245–264, 2007.

Michalakes, J., Dudhia, J., Gill, D., Henderson, T., Klemp, J., Skamarock, W., and Wang, W.: The Weather Research and Forecasting Model: software architecture and performance, in: 11th ECMWF Workshop on the use of High Performance Computing in Meteorology, edited by: Mozdzynski, G., Reading, UK, 2004.

Natale, P., Anfossi, D., and Cassardo, C.: Analysis of an anomalous case of high air pollution concentration in Turin after a foehn event, Int. J. Environ. Pollut., 11, 147–164, 1999.

Nitis, T., Kitsiou, D., Klai\'c, Z .B., Prtenjak, M. T., and Moussiopoulos, N.: The effects of basic flow and topography on the development of the sea breeze over a complex coastal environment, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 131, 305–328, 2005.

O'Brien, J. J.: A Note on the Vertical Structure of the Eddy Exchange Coefficient in the Planetary Boundary Layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 27, 1213–1215, 1970.

Pohjola, M. A., Rantamaki, M., Kukkonen, J., Karppinen, A., and Berge, E.: Meteorological evaluation of a severe air pollution episode in Helsinki on 27–29 December 1995, Boreal Env. Res., 9, 75–87, 2004.

Prtenjak, M. T., Grisogono, B., and Nitis, T.: Shallow mesoscale flows at the north-eastern Adriatic coast, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 132, 2191–2215, 2006.

Prtenjak, M. T. and Grisogono, B.: Sea/land breezes climatological characteristics along the northeastern Adriatic coast, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 90, 201–215, doi:10.1007/s00704-006-0286-9, 2007.

Prtenjak, M. T., Pasari\'c, Z., Orli\'c, M., and Grisogono, B.: Rotation of sea/land breezes along the northeastern Adriatic coast, Ann. Geophys., 26, 1711–1724, 2008.

Robinsohn, J., Mahrer, Y., and Wakshal, E.: The effects of mesoscale circulation on the dispersion of pollutants (SO$_2)$ in the eastern Mediterranean, southern coastal-plain of Israel, Atmos. Environ., 26, 271–277, 1992.

Skamarock, W. C., Klemp, J. B., Dudhia, J., Gill, D. O., Barker, D. M., Wang, W., and Powers, J. G.: A description of the Advanced Research WRF Version 2, NCAR/TN-468+STR, NCAR TECHNICAL NOTE, 88~pp., online available at: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/docs/arw_v2.pdf, January 2007.

Skamarock, W. C. and Klemp, J. B.: A time-split nonhydrostatic atmospheric model for weather research and forecasting applications, J. Comput. Phys, 227, 3465–3485, 2008.

Skouloudis, A. N., Kassomenos, P., and Nitis, T.: Science and policy challenges of atmospheric modelling in consideration of health effects, Int. J. Environ. Pollut., accepted, 2009.

Soler, M. R., Hinojosa, J., Bravo, M., Pino, D., and de Arellano, J. V. G.: Analyzing the basic features of different complex terrain flows by means of a Doppler Sodar and a numerical model: Some implications for air pollution problems, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys., 85, 141–154, 2004.

Steenkist, R.: Episodes of high SO2 concentration in The Netherlands, Atmos. Environ., 22, 1475–1480, 1988.

Stull, R. B.: An introduction to boundary layer meteorology, Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1988.

Tayanc, M. and Bercin, A.: SO2 modeling in Izmit Gulf, Turkey during the winter of 1997: 3 cases, Environ. Model. Assess., 12, 119–129, 2007.

Trenberth, K. E., Davis, C. A., and Fasullo, J.: Water and energy budgets of hurricanes: Case studies of Ivan and Katrina, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 112, D23106, doi:10.1029/2006JD008303, 2007.

Vieno, M., Dore, A. J., Wind, P., Di Marco, C., Nemitz, E., Phillips, G., Tarrason, L., and Sutton, M. A.: Application of the EMEP Unified Model to the UK with a horizontal resolution of 5$\times$5 km2, in: Atmospheric Ammonia: Detecting emission changes and environmental impacts, edited by: Sutton, M. A., Baker, S., and Reis, S., Springer, 464~pp., 2009.

Vieno, M., Dore, A. J., Stevenson, D. S., Doherty, R., Heal, M., Reis, S., Hallsworth, S., Tarrasón, L., Wind, P., and Sutton, M. A.: 'MODELLING SURFACE OZONE DURING THE 2003 HEAT WAVE IN THE UK, 'Croatian Meteorological Journal 43, The 12th International Conference on Harmonizaton within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes, HARMO 12, Djuri\uci\'c, V., Zagreb, Croatian Meteorological Society, 83–87, 2008.

Willmott, C. J.: Some comments on the evaluation of model performance, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 63, 1309–1313, 1982.

Wyngaard, J. C.: Toward numerical modeling in the "Terra Incognita", J. Atmos. Sci., 61, 1816–1826, 2004.