Evaluation of the boundary layer dynamics of the TM5 model over Europe

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKoffi, ENen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBergamaschi, Pen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKarstens, Uen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKrol, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorSegers, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchmidt, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorLevin, Ien_AU
dc.contributor.authorVermeulen, ATen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFisher, REen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKazan, Ven_AU
dc.contributor.authorKlein Baltink, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLowry, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorManca, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMeijer, HAJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMoncrieff, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPal, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRamonet, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorScheeren, HAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-23T04:45:02Zen_AU
dc.date.available2017-02-23T04:45:02Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2016-09-14en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-10-24en_AU
dc.description.abstractWe evaluate the capability of the global atmospheric transport model TM5 to simulate the boundary layer dynamics and associated variability of trace gases close to the surface, using radon (222Rn). Focusing on the European scale, we compare the boundary layer height (BLH) in the TM5 model with observations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admnistration (NOAA) Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) and also with ceilometer and lidar (light detection and ranging) BLH retrievals at two stations. Furthermore, we compare TM5 simulations of 222Rn activity concentrations, using a novel, process-based 222Rn flux map over Europe (Karstens et al., 2015), with harmonised 222Rn measurements at 10 stations. The TM5 model reproduces relatively well the daytime BLH (within 10–20 % for most of the stations), except for coastal sites, for which differences are usually larger due to model representation errors. During night, however, TM5 overestimates the shallow nocturnal BLHs, especially for the very low observed BLHs (< 100 m) during summer. The 222Rn activity concentration simulations based on the new 222Rn flux map show significant improvements especially regarding the average seasonal variability, compared to simulations using constant 222Rn fluxes. Nevertheless, the (relative) differences between simulated and observed daytime minimum 222Rn activity concentrations are larger for several stations (on the order of 50 %) than the (relative) differences between simulated and observed BLH at noon. Although the nocturnal BLH is often higher in the model than observed, simulated 222Rn nighttime maxima are actually larger at several continental stations. This counterintuitive behaviour points to potential deficiencies of TM5 to correctly simulate the vertical gradients within the nocturnal boundary layer, limitations of the 222Rn flux map, or issues related to the definition of the nocturnal BLH. At several stations the simulated decrease of 222Rn activity concentrations in the morning is faster than observed. In addition, simulated vertical 222Rn activity concentration gradients at Cabauw decrease faster than observations during the morning transition period, and are in general lower than observed gradients during daytime. Although these effects may be partially due to the slow response time of the radon detectors, they clearly point to too fast vertical mixing in the TM5 boundary layer during daytime. Furthermore, the capability of the TM5 model to simulate the diurnal BLH cycle is limited by the current coarse temporal resolution (3 h/6 h) of the TM5 input meteorology. © Author(s) 2016.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationKoffi, E. N., Bergamaschi, P., Karstens, U., Krol, M., Segers, A., Schmidt, M., Levin, I., Vermeulen, A. T., Fisher, R. E., Kazan, V., Klein Baltink, H., Lowry, D., Manca, G., Meijer, H. A. J., Moncrieff, J., Pal, S., Ramonet, M., Scheeren, H. A., & Williams, A. G (2016). Evaluation of the boundary layer dynamics of the TM5 model over Europe. Geoscientific Model Development, 9(9), 3137-3160. doi:10.5194/gmd-9-3137-2016en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc7387en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1991-9603en_AU
dc.identifier.issue9en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleGeoscientific Model Developmenten_AU
dc.identifier.pagination3137-3160en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-3137-2016en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/8338en_AU
dc.identifier.volume9en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherCopernicus Publicationsen_AU
dc.subjectMeasuring methodsen_AU
dc.subjectBoundary layersen_AU
dc.subjectSeasonal variationsen_AU
dc.subjectRadon 222en_AU
dc.subjectEuropeen_AU
dc.subjectAtmospheresen_AU
dc.subjectTracer techniquesen_AU
dc.titleEvaluation of the boundary layer dynamics of the TM5 model over Europeen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Thumbnail Image
Name:
gmd-9-3137-2016-corrigendum.pdf
Size:
68.93 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
gmd-9-3137-2016.pdf
Size:
9.87 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
gmd-9-3137-2016-supplement.pdf
Size:
10.61 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles