Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley

Abstract Persistent cold air pools (CAPs) trap pollutants in valleys for extended periods, leading to reduced visibility and increased air pollution within these valleys. The structure of the persistent cold air pool that occurred in the Lanzhou Valley in December 2016 was simulated using different...

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Main Authors: Minjin Ma, Guoqiang Kang, Zhenzhu Zhao, Yidan Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Meteorological Applications
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70020
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author Minjin Ma
Guoqiang Kang
Zhenzhu Zhao
Yidan Cao
author_facet Minjin Ma
Guoqiang Kang
Zhenzhu Zhao
Yidan Cao
author_sort Minjin Ma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Persistent cold air pools (CAPs) trap pollutants in valleys for extended periods, leading to reduced visibility and increased air pollution within these valleys. The structure of the persistent cold air pool that occurred in the Lanzhou Valley in December 2016 was simulated using different Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) scenarios of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and the simulation of the persistent cold air pool was further optimized in these PBL scenarios. The simulation results indicated that weather‐scale dry subsidence and nighttime ground radiation cooling were significant factors contributing to the accumulation of persistent CAPs and pollutants in the Lanzhou Valley. In contrast, convective lifting from the ground led to the dissipation of persistent CAPs and a reduction in pollution within the valley. During persistent CAPs, the PM2.5 concentration and valley heat deficit (Q) were 66.7% and 62% higher, respectively, than during non‐CAP. In the original MYNN scheme, the average PBL height, double turbulent kinetic energy (QKE), and turbulence length scale during persistent CAPs decreased by 30.79%, 50.5%, and 34.4%, respectively, compared to non‐CAP. Compared with the original MYNN scheme, the optimized MYNN scheme shows a significant improvement in the turbulence simulation during the sustained CAPs, resulting in a more stable atmosphere. The PBL height during the sustained CAPs is reduced by 28 m, the diurnal turbulence length scale is reduced by 31.62%, the stability parameter is reduced by 39%, the diurnal mean QKE is reduced by 27.45%, and the QKE impact height is reduced by 100–400 m.
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spelling doaj-art-832dc05902e3474a9114da53bc6aa71a2025-08-20T02:38:59ZengWileyMeteorological Applications1350-48271469-80802024-11-01316n/an/a10.1002/met.70020Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou ValleyMinjin Ma0Guoqiang Kang1Zhenzhu Zhao2Yidan Cao3The Gansu Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Reducing Disaster College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University Lanzhou ChinaThe Gansu Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Reducing Disaster College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University Lanzhou ChinaThe Gansu Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Reducing Disaster College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University Lanzhou ChinaThe Gansu Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Reducing Disaster College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University Lanzhou ChinaAbstract Persistent cold air pools (CAPs) trap pollutants in valleys for extended periods, leading to reduced visibility and increased air pollution within these valleys. The structure of the persistent cold air pool that occurred in the Lanzhou Valley in December 2016 was simulated using different Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) scenarios of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and the simulation of the persistent cold air pool was further optimized in these PBL scenarios. The simulation results indicated that weather‐scale dry subsidence and nighttime ground radiation cooling were significant factors contributing to the accumulation of persistent CAPs and pollutants in the Lanzhou Valley. In contrast, convective lifting from the ground led to the dissipation of persistent CAPs and a reduction in pollution within the valley. During persistent CAPs, the PM2.5 concentration and valley heat deficit (Q) were 66.7% and 62% higher, respectively, than during non‐CAP. In the original MYNN scheme, the average PBL height, double turbulent kinetic energy (QKE), and turbulence length scale during persistent CAPs decreased by 30.79%, 50.5%, and 34.4%, respectively, compared to non‐CAP. Compared with the original MYNN scheme, the optimized MYNN scheme shows a significant improvement in the turbulence simulation during the sustained CAPs, resulting in a more stable atmosphere. The PBL height during the sustained CAPs is reduced by 28 m, the diurnal turbulence length scale is reduced by 31.62%, the stability parameter is reduced by 39%, the diurnal mean QKE is reduced by 27.45%, and the QKE impact height is reduced by 100–400 m.https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70020boundary layercold air poolsnumerical simulationoptimization
spellingShingle Minjin Ma
Guoqiang Kang
Zhenzhu Zhao
Yidan Cao
Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
Meteorological Applications
boundary layer
cold air pools
numerical simulation
optimization
title Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
title_full Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
title_fullStr Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
title_full_unstemmed Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
title_short Numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the Lanzhou Valley
title_sort numerical simulation and its optimization of cold air pools in the lanzhou valley
topic boundary layer
cold air pools
numerical simulation
optimization
url https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70020
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AT guoqiangkang numericalsimulationanditsoptimizationofcoldairpoolsinthelanzhouvalley
AT zhenzhuzhao numericalsimulationanditsoptimizationofcoldairpoolsinthelanzhouvalley
AT yidancao numericalsimulationanditsoptimizationofcoldairpoolsinthelanzhouvalley