Modeling Thermal Flows and Cold-air Pools in a Small Basin

该项目的目标是促进对以下问题的科学认识：(1)热驱动的跨流域流动及其如何受到不同植被和积雪复盖以及更大规模流动的影响；(2)通过盆地周围地形的缝隙和鞍座夜间流入和流出的流动及其与现有冷气池的相互作用。这项工作对提高空气质量预报和交通安全具有很强的潜力。这项研究项目将研究小阿尔卑斯山盆地格伦洛克地区的热流和冷气池的选定方面。数值模型模拟的目的是回答人们还不太了解的问题。该项目将与奥地利维也纳大学的科学家合作实施，过去12年来，他们一直在格伦洛克盆地收集数据，并计划开展另一个更广泛的实地项目。格伦洛克盆地及其周围的地形非常适合进行这项研究。Gruenloch以形成强大的冷气池和极端最低温度而闻名，保持着中欧最低测量温度的记录。周围阿尔卑斯山的复杂地形，包括格伦洛克山脊线上的几个鞍座，允许形成与盆地大气相互作用的更大规模的昼夜气流。智力上的好处：这项研究的结果将促进对热力驱动气流和冷气池的几个方面的理解，这些流动和冷气池经常出现在山区。关于复杂的周围地形引起的地表条件和流动对跨流域流动的影响以及盆地流出和流入对冷气池的影响等明确的问题，人们还知之甚少。观测数据将被用来评估和改进在这一高度复杂的地形中的高分辨率模拟性能。更广泛的影响：这项研究的科学发现将促进对热驱动流动和冷空气池的了解，这些现象有助于改进对这些现象的预测，这些现象强烈地影响着山区的空气污染传输和扩散、噪声传播、火灾传播和雾的形成。结果将通过期刊出版物、会议和特邀研讨会演示文稿以及网站公布。调查结果将被纳入课堂讲课。

The goal of this project is to advance the scientific understanding of (1) thermally driven cross-basin flows and how they are modified by heterogeneous vegetation and snow coverage and by larger-scale flows and of (2) nocturnal inflows and outflows through gaps and saddles in the surrounding topography of basins and how they interact with existing cold-air pools. This work has strong potential to improve air quality forecast and transportation safety. This research project will study selected aspects of thermally driven flows and cold-air pools in the Gruenloch, a small Alpine basin. Numerical model simulations are designed to answer questions that are yet poorly understood. The project will be performed in collaboration with scientists at the University of Vienna, Austria, who have been collecting data in the Gruenloch basin for the past 12 years and who plan another, more extensive field program. The topography of the Gruenloch basin and its surroundings is ideally suited for this study. The Gruenloch is known for the development of strong cold-air pools and extreme minimum temperatures, holding the record for the lowest measured temperature in central Europe. The complex topography of the surrounding Alps, including several saddles in the ridgeline of the Gruenloch, allow the formation of larger-scale daytime and nighttime flows that interact with the basin atmosphere.Intellectual Merit :The results from this study will advance the understanding of several aspects of thermally driven flows and cold-air pools, which occur frequently in mountainous terrain. The defined questions about the influence of surface conditions and flows induced by the complex surrounding topography on cross-basin flows and the influence of basin outflows and inflows on cold-air pools are yet poorly understood. Observational data will be used to evaluate and improve high-resolution modeling performance in this highly complex terrain.Broader Impacts :The scientific findings from this study will advance knowledge on thermally driven flows and cold-air pools that can contribute to improved forecasting of these phenomena, which strongly affect air pollution transport and dispersion, noise propagation, fire propagation, and fog formation in mountainous terrain. Results will be made public through journal publications, conference and invited seminar presentations, and websites. Findings will be incorporated into classroom lectures.