Benchmarks for chemical transport models based on radon-derived stability assessment of urban air pollution

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dc.contributor.authorChambers, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-12T06:14:07Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-07-12T06:14:07Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-07-09en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-01-11en_AU
dc.description.abstractA clearer understanding of the variability in pollution concentrations in urban regions is essential for improving the predictive abilities of chemical transport models as well as identifying the need for (and assessing the efficacy of) emission mitigation strategies. Near-surface pollutant concentrations are a complex function of many factors, including: source strengths and distribution, local meteorology and air chemistry. On short (sub-diurnal) timescales, the extent of the vertical column within which emissions mix usually has the largest influence on measured concentrations, and the depth of this mixing volume is in turn closely related to wind speed and the thermal stability of the ABL. Continuous hourly observations of the ubiquitous, surfaceemitted, passive tracer radon-222 provide a powerful alternative to contemporary meteorological techniques for assessing stability effects on urban pollutants, because radon's concentration is closely matched with pollution transport processes at the surface. Here we outline a technique by which single-height, near-surface (<20m) radon observations can be conditioned to derive a multi-category stability classification scheme for urban pollution monitoring to provide benchmarking tools for local- to regional- chemical transport model evaluations. Efficacy of the radon-based classification scheme is compared to that based on conventional Pasquil-Gifford "turbulence" and "radiation" schemes. Lastly, we provide benchmark values for the Sydney region of climatological parameters and some key urban pollutant emissions under stable atmospheric conditions, when air nearest the surface can completely decouple from the overlying atmosphere, and numerical models are renowned for their poorest performance.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)en_AU
dc.identifier.citationChambers, S. & Williams A. G. (2015). Benchmarks for chemical transport models based on radon-derived stability assessment of urban air pollution. Presentation to the 13th Australasian Environment Isotope Conference (AEIC), Sydney, 8-10th July 2015.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate10 July 2015en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename13th Australasian Environment Isotope Conference (AEIC)en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSydney, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate8 July 2015en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13360en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherUniversity of New South Wales and Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisationen_AU
dc.subjectBenchmarksen_AU
dc.subjectChemicalsen_AU
dc.subjectRadonen_AU
dc.subjectUrban areasen_AU
dc.subjectAir pollutionen_AU
dc.subjectStabilityen_AU
dc.titleBenchmarks for chemical transport models based on radon-derived stability assessment of urban air pollutionen_AU
dc.typeConference Presentationen_AU
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