Large-Eddy Simulation of Katabatic Flows

A large-eddy simulation model with rotated coordinates and an open boundary is used to simulate the characteristics of katabatic flows over simple terrain. Experiments examine the effects of cross winds on the development of the slope-flow boundary layer for a steep (20°) slope and the role of drainage winds in preventing turbulence collapse on a gentle slope (1°). For the steep flow cases, comparisons between model average boundary-layer velocity, temperature deficit, and turbulence kinetic energy budget terms and tower observations show reasonable agreement. Results for different cross slope winds show that as the cross slope winds increase, the slope flow deepens faster and behaves more like a weakly stratified, sheared boundary layer. Analysis of the momentum budget shows that near the surface the flow is maintained by a balance between downslope buoyancy forcing and vertical turbulence flux from surface drag. Above the downslope jet, the turbulence vertical momentum flux reverses sign and acceleration of the flow by buoyancy is controlled by horizontal advection of slower moving ambient air. The turbulence budget is dominated by a balance between shear production and eddy dissipation, however, buoyancy and pressure transport both are significant in reducing the strength of turbulence above the jet. Results from the gentle slope case show that even a slight terrain variation can lead to significant drainage winds. Comparison of the gentle slope case with a flat terrain simulation indicates that drainage winds can effectively prevent the formation of very stable boundary layers, at least near the top of sloping terrain.     

城市建筑动力学效应对对流边界层影响的敏感性试验

本文将大涡模拟应用于城市对流边界层(CBL)湍流结构和流场特征的研究,在大涡模式中,拖曳系数取与建筑物高度及建筑物高度标准差有关的表达式以考虑次网格建筑物对风速和湍流动能(TKE)的面积平均影响.模拟结果表明,由于城市建筑物对气流的拖曳作用,使建筑物冠层及整个CBL内风速大幅度减小,城市冠层内部风速减小尤为明显,在夹卷层内,风速有一明显的跃变.在边界层中部对流运动已经发展成为较强的热泡,城市建筑物的动力学效应使热泡的水平尺度增大,CBL内平均上升气流速度和下沉气流速度减小,同时使CBL中上升气流所占比例比平坦地面增大.城市建筑物使CBL低层热通量、动量通量、速度方差和位温方差明显增大,但对近地层高度以上的湍流量影响不大.     

A Backward-Lagrangian-Stochastic Footprint Model for the Urban Environment

Built terrains, with their complexity in morphology, high heterogeneity, and anthropogenic impact, impose substantial challenges in Earth-system modelling. In particular, estimation of the source areas and footprints of atmospheric measurements in cities requires realistic representation of the landscape characteristics and flow physics in urban areas, but has hitherto been heavily reliant on large-eddy simulations. In this study, we developed physical parametrization schemes for estimating urban footprints based on the backward-Lagrangian-stochastic algorithm, with the built environment represented by street canyons. The vertical profile of mean streamwise velocity is parametrized for the urban canopy and boundary layer. Flux footprints estimated by the proposed model show reasonable agreement with analytical predictions over flat surfaces without roughness elements, and with experimental observations over sparse plant canopies. Furthermore, comparisons of canyon flow and turbulence profiles and the subsequent footprints were made between the proposed model and large-eddy simulation data. The results suggest that the parametrized canyon wind and turbulence statistics, based on the simple similarity theory used, need to be further improved to yield more realistic urban footprint modelling.     

Forward-in-time and Backward-in-time Dispersion in the Convective Boundary Layer: the Concentration Footprint

The turbulence field obtained using a large-eddy simulation model is used to simulate particle dispersion in the convective boundary layer with both forward-in-time and backward-in-time modes. A Lagrangian stochastic model is used to treat subgrid-scale turbulence. Results of forward dispersion match both laboratory experiments and previous numerical studies for different release heights in the convective boundary layer. Results obtained from backward dispersion show obvious asymmetry when directly compared to results from forward dispersion. However, a direct comparison of forward and backward dispersion has no apparent physical meaning and might be misleading. Results of backward dispersion can be interpreted as three-dimensional or generalized concentration footprints, which indicate that sources in the entire boundary layer, not only sources at the surface, may influence a concentration measurement at a point. Footprints at four source heights in the convective boundary layer corresponding to four receptors are derived using forward and backward dispersion methods. The agreement among footprints derived with forward and backward methods illustrates the equivalence between both approaches. The paper shows explicitly that Lagrangian simulations can yield identical footprints using forward and backward methods in horizontally homogeneous turbulence.     

北京夏季城市热岛现状及楔形绿地规划对缓解城市热岛的作用

通过遥感技术与地面测定相结合的方法，对北京城市热岛现状作观测研究，得到北京城市地面的温度分布特点。使用北京大学城市边界层模式从气象观点就“楔形绿地”规划对北京城市气候的影响进行研究和评价，模式通过对城市地表复杂性和多样性的特征进行细致描述，建立了一个细致模拟城市特点的城市边界层能量平衡模式，并用此能量平衡模式得到的地面温度作为下边界条件，中尺度气象模式MM5做初始场和侧边界条件，建立一个最小分辨率为500 m的城市边界层模式系统，来研究城市边界层在中尺度背景场作用下的精细结构。通过个例模拟，模式能够较准确地模拟城市边界层的风温场分布情况，可以用来对楔形绿地规划进行模拟试验。通过对规划后的气象场在特定的气象条件下进行模拟，结果显示，建造大型的楔形绿地后，绿地区域及绿地周围约1 km以内的地区温度有所降低，降低的程度由规划前后的地表类型改变的剧烈程度、风速大小及与绿地的距离决定，但是这种规划方案却会因城市的下风方向的风速减小而导致通风不畅。     

基于激光雷达遥感和参数化模式研究城市混合层的发展机制

利用北京大学的微脉冲激光雷达(MPL)观测的偏南气流条件下的混合层高度和夹卷层厚度探测资料,研究简单天气条件下城市混合层的发展机制并与GB94的参数化方案相互映证.通过激光雷达遥感的混合层高度和夹卷层厚度计算了混合层顶的夹卷率A,得到其平衡夹卷阶段的值为0.24.在不考虑机械混合前提下反演了地面感热通量,结果表明遥感的反演值与梯度法的计算值有系统性偏差,但总体上仍旧有较好的相关.偏差量的大小反映了影响混合层发展的机械湍流的参数B,进一步通过GB91模式的模拟确定该参数的最佳值约为3.5.在此基础上讨论了混     

城市环境对重气扩散的影响及其验证

开发了适合城市环境下的应急重气扩散模型——SLAB_URBAN模型,该模型能够对城市环境下重气的传输扩散过程进行模拟。模型的原理基于重气扩散浅层理论,采用了新的城市边界层和扩散参数的参数化方案。该方案考虑了城市冠层内特有的风和湍流扩散的特征,能够体现城市边界层和湍流对重气扩散的影响。对美国盐湖城Urban2000的城市扩散试验进行模拟,主要验证下风方向观测弧所观测到的气体最大小时平均浓度与源释放速率的比值。结果表明,模型能够比较好地模拟出下风方向上浓度的分布特征。另外,与国外同类城市扩散模型的比较来看,SLAB_URBAN模型的模拟能力居于前列。     

Prediction of wind properties in urban environments using artificial neural network

Artificial neural network (ANN) modeling has been performed to predict turbulent boundary layer characteristics for rough terrain based on experimental tests conducted in a boundary-layer wind tunnel to simulate atmospheric boundary layer using passive roughness devices such as spires, barriers, roughness elements on the floor, and slots in the extended test section. Different configurations of passive devices assisted to simulate urban terrains. A part of the wind tunnel test results are used as training sets for the ANN, and the other part of the test results are used to compare the prediction results of the ANN. Two ANN models have been developed in this study. The first one has been used to predict mean velocity, turbulence intensity, and model length scale factor. Results show that ANN is an efficient, accurate, and robust modeling procedure to predict turbulent characteristics of wind. In particular, it was found that the ANN-predicted wind mean velocities are within 4.7%, turbulence intensities are within 6.2%, and model length scale factors are within 3.8% of the actual measured values. In addition, another ANN model has been developed to predict instantaneous velocities that enables calculating the power spectral density of longitudinal velocity fluctuations. Results show that the predicted power spectra are in a good agreement with the power spectra obtained from measured instantaneous velocities.     

Characteristics of natural wind simulations in the TUM boundary layer wind tunnel

The boundary layer wind tunnel at the Technische Universit?t München was tested for atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) simulations. The ABLs developing above rural, suburban, and urban terrains were reproduced using the Counihan method, i.e., castellated barrier wall, vortex generators, and a fetch of surface roughness elements. A series of flow-characteristic evaluations was performed to investigate the flow development and uniformity. Experimental results presented as mean velocity, turbulence intensity, integral length scale of turbulence, Reynolds stress, and power spectral density of velocity fluctuations were compared with the ESDU data and/or theoretical models. Generated ABL wind-tunnel simulations compare well with the rural, suburban, and urban ABLs. In the test section area used for experiments on structural models, the ABL simulation is developed and uniform. Results of this study indicate the boundary layer wind tunnel at the Technische Universit?t München can be successfully employed in a broad spectrum of engineering, environmental, and micrometeorological studies, where it is required to accurately reproduce ABL characteristics.     

A One-Dimensional Finite-Element Boundary-Layer Model with a Vertical Adaptive Grid

A one-dimensional atmospheric boundary-layer model is developed using the finite element method and a 1.5-order e-l turbulence closure scheme. A vertical adaptive strategy is implemented, based upon an heuristic error estimator that depends upon properties of the layer, such as the stratification. The model is used to simulate a moderately stratified stable boundary layer as described in the GABLS (GEWEX Atmospheric Boundary-Layer Study, where GEWEX is the Global Water and Energy Cycle Experiment) First Intercomparison Project, and then a more complicated diurnal cycle, as used in the GABLS Second Intercomparison Project. In the stable boundary-layer experiment, it is shown that including the adaptive strategy can improve the performance of the model such that the error in the model is significantly less (greater than an order of magnitude with an effective resolution of 8 m) than that of the model without adaptivity. The model’s turbulence closure scheme and the adaptivity strategy also successfully simulate the different stability regimes present in the diurnal cycle simulation, and represented all of the expected features.     

Numerical study of flow and gas diffusion in the near-wake behind an isolated building

To assist validation of the experimental data of urban pollution dispersion, the effect of an isolated building on the flow and gaseous diffusion in the wake region have been investigated numerically in the neutrally stratified rough-walled turbulent boundary layer. Numerical studies were carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. The CFD models used for the simulation were based on the steady-state Reynolds-Average Navier-Stoke equations (RANS) with κ-ε turbulence models; standard κ-ε and RNG κ-ε models. Inlet conditions and boundary conditions were specified numerically to the best information available for each fluid modeling simulation. A gas pollutant was emitted from a point source within the recirculation cavity behind the building model. The accuracy of these simulations was examined by comparing the predicted results with wind tunnel experimental data. It was confirmed that simulation using the model accurately reproduces the velocity and concentration diffusion fields with a fine-mish resolution in the near wake region. Results indicated that there is a good agreement between the numerical simulation and the wind tunnel experiment for both wind flow and concentration diffusion. The results of this work can help to improve the understanding of mechanisms of and simulation of pollutant transport in an urban environment.     

Trailing Vortices In Flow Around Smoothly Shaped Obstacles

We study the vorticity field induced by flow around surface mounted obstacles, focussing on the streamwise vorticity. A combination of analytical and numerical model results indicates that the mechanisms for the generation of the mean flow vorticity, as well as its form and magnitude, are not significantly influenced by turbulence, at least for a first-order turbulence closure. This result is in qualitative agreement with suggestions of previous studies. The numerical model is used to simulate flow around an asymmetric hill and, in terms of the shape and positioning of the trailing vortex, good agreement is found between the simulations and observations. However, the strength of the vortex appears to be significantly underestimated by the numerical model. The influence of the slope of the hill and of the angle of incidence of the mean wind on the trailing vorticity is also investigated. Finally, it is found that the occurrence of a dominant trailing vortex, at least one of the strength predicted by the numerical model, does not have a significant impact on the momentum budget of the downstream boundary layer.     

Using a Modified Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Scheme （MSPAS） to Simulate the Interaction between Land Surface Processes and Atmospheric Boundary Layer in Semi-Arid Regions

This paper uses a Modified Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Scheme (MSPAS) to study the interaction betweenland surface and atmospheric boundary layer processes. The scheme is composed of two main parts:atmospheric boundary layer processes and land surface processes. Compared with SiB and BATS, which arefamous for their detailed parameterizations of physical variables, this simplified model is more convenientand saves much more computation time. Though simple, the feasibility of the model is well proved inthis paper. The numerical simulation results from MSPAS show good agreement with reality. The schemeis used to obtain reasonable simulations for diurnal variations of heat balance, potential temperature ofboundary layer, and wind field, and spatial distributions of temperature, specific humidity, vertical velocity,turbulence kinetic energy, and turbulence exchange coefficient over desert and oasis. In addition, MSPAS isused to simulate the interaction between desert and oasis at night, and again it obtains reasonable results.This indicates that MSPAS can be used to study the interaction between land surface processes and theatmospheric boundary layer over various underlying surfaces and can be extended for regional climate andnumerical weather prediction study.     

人为热对城市边界层结构影响研究

为研究不同人为热源引入方案对城市边界层结构模拟性能的影响，以杭州地区为例，在区域边界层模式（RBLM）中引入一种新人为热源处理方案，即对城市中的人为热排放分层考虑，将低层的人为热源加入地表能量平衡方程，将高层人为热源分布与建筑物高度和密度联系起来，加入热量方程中，同时考虑了人为热源强度的日变化。数值试验结果表明，这是一种比较合理的处理方案。人为热源引入方案对城市边界层结构的影响表现在:气温、湍流动能增加，并通过湍流交换输送到较高层大气；大气不稳定度增加，混合层高度最高抬升了400 m；城市地区上升速度增加，热岛环流加强；白天人为热源一般为太阳辐射的10%～20%，对地气交换的影响较小。夜间没有了太阳辐射能量，对地气交换的影响比日间更明显；冬季低层湍流活动加强，湍能约增加40%，大气层结稳定度降低。     

Comparison of Measured and Numerically Simulated Turbulence Statistics in a Convective Boundary Layer Over Complex Terrain

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model can be used to simulate atmospheric processes ranging from quasi-global to tens of m in scale. Here we employ large-eddy simulation (LES) using the WRF model, with the LES-domain nested within a mesoscale WRF model domain with grid spacing decreasing from 12.15 km (mesoscale) to 0.03 km (LES). We simulate real-world conditions in the convective planetary boundary layer over an area of complex terrain. The WRF-LES model results are evaluated against observations collected during the US Department of Energy-supported Columbia Basin Wind Energy Study. Comparison of the first- and second-order moments, turbulence spectrum, and probability density function of wind speed shows good agreement between the simulations and observations. One key result is to demonstrate that a systematic methodology needs to be applied to select the grid spacing and refinement ratio used between domains, to avoid having a grid resolution that falls in the grey zone and to minimize artefacts in the WRF-LES model solutions. Furthermore, the WRF-LES model variables show large variability in space and time caused by the complex topography in the LES domain. Analyses of WRF-LES model results show that the flow structures, such as roll vortices and convective cells, vary depending on both the location and time of day as well as the distance from the inflow boundaries.     

应用城市冠层模式研究建筑物形态对城市边界层的影响

文中将城市冠层模式耦合到南京大学城市尺度边界层模式中,通过模拟对比发现,耦合模式对城市地区气温模拟结果更接近于观测值,尤其是对城市地区夜间气温模拟的改进.运用改进耦合模式通过多个敏感性试验的模拟,从城市面积扩张、建筑物高度增加、建筑物分布密度变化等角度研究城市建筑物三维几何形态变化对城市边界层及城市气象环境的影响,试验结果表明:(1)城市面积扩张使得城市下垫面的热通量增大,热力湍流活动增强,动量通量输送增强,城市湍能增大,湍流扩散系数变大,城市气温升高,且对不同时刻城市区域大气层结稳定度均有不同程度的影响.(2)建筑物高度增加增大了城市下垫面的粗糙度和零平面位移.同时也增大了城市街渠高宽比.城市建筑物越高,白天城市地区地表热通量越小,城市上空大气温度越低,平均风速减小,湍能减小;夜间由于高大建筑物释放储热比低矮建筑物要多,其热力湍流相对活跃,地表热通量增大,使得城市区域气温较高.(3)建筑物密度增大,会减小城市下垫面的粗糙度同时增强街渠对辐射的影响.建筑物密度增大在白天会减小地表热通量和动量通量,使城市气温降低,平均风速增大,城市湍流活动能力减弱;夜间城市释放较多储热使得气温较高.     

Operating ranges of meteorological wind tunnels for the simulation of convective boundary layer (CBL) phenomena

The operating ranges of meteorological wind tunnels for convective boundary-layer (CBL) simulation are defined in this paper based on a review of the theoretical and practical limitations of the flow phenomena and the facilities available. Wind-tunnel operating ranges are limited by the dimensions of the simulated circulations and of the tunnel itself, the tunnel flow speed and turbulence processes, and the characteristics of the measurement instrumentation. When it is desired to simulate both the CBL and the behavior of other flows imbedded within the boundary layer, such as power-plant plume rise and dispersion, then additional constraints exist on the fluid modeling process. The capabilities of meteorological wind tunnels can also be extended through the judicious use of boundary and side wall flow controls.     

Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Katabatic Slope Flows with an Immersed-Boundary Method

We investigate a Cartesian-mesh immersed-boundary formulation within an incompressible flow solver to simulate laminar and turbulent katabatic slope flows. As a proof-of-concept study, we consider four different immersed-boundary reconstruction schemes for imposing a Neumann-type boundary condition on the buoyancy field. Prandtl’s laminar solution is used to demonstrate the second-order accuracy of the numerical solutions globally. Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent katabatic flow is then performed to investigate the applicability of the proposed schemes in the turbulent regime by analyzing both first- and second-order statistics of turbulence. First-order statistics show that turbulent katabatic flow simulations are noticeably sensitive to the specifics of the immersed-boundary formulation. We find that reconstruction schemes that work well in the laminar regime may not perform as well when applied to a turbulent regime. Our proposed immersed-boundary reconstruction scheme agrees closely with the terrain-fitted reference solutions in both flow regimes.