CAREER: An Observational and Numerical Study of Multi-scale Transport and Mixing Processes in the Convective Boundary Layer over Mountains

大气的最低层及其与底层复杂地形的相互作用显著影响天气预报、气溶胶分布和相关的能见度限制以及地球气候系统的行为。 近年来，实地研究已经产生了大量关于山区低层大气的数据。 该项目的目标是利用这些未开发的数据来1）确定和量化山区地形中气溶胶和对流边界层结构的空间和时间变化，并确定造成这种变化的多尺度过程，2）评估和改进传输和混合过程的数值模式表示以及气溶胶分布和对流边界层结构的相关地形控制，3）为K-12，本科生和研究生创造引人入胜的体验，使他们能够获得和应用科学探究技能。 这项工作将利用现有的地面和空中数据集，包括来自T-REX的数据集（地形诱导转子实验），其中多普勒激光雷达发挥关键作用，以及从轨道平台上进行更全面的测量。这项工作的智力价值集中在发展更全面的对流-在复杂地形上修改大气行为以及改进区域和全球模式中山脉对低层大气影响的数值表示的新方法。 这项工作的更广泛影响将包括通过以下方式创造的重要学习经验：1）开发在线模块，支持和鼓励科学探究，2）促进国家和国际合作的伙伴关系，以及3）涉及实地工作和大气建模的实践活动。 弗吉尼亚州谢南多厄国家公园的一个新的气象设施是这项努力的动手学生教育部分的核心，也将允许外展公园游客。 国家和国际合作将在五个夏季期间通过国际研究人员和代表性不足的本科生的短期访问进行。 开发在线模块、实践经验以及国家和国际合作将促进对山区气象学科学原理的持久了解。 从长远来看，这项研究的结果将与广泛的应用有关，包括天气预报，区域和全球气候以及空气质量管理。

The lowest layers of the atmosphere and their interactions with underlying complex terrain significantly influence forecasts of weather, distributions of aerosols and associated restrictions to visibility, and behavior of the earth's climate system. In recent years field studies have produced a wealth of data on the lower atmosphere over mountainous terrain. The goals of this project are to exploit these untapped data to 1) determine and quantify the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol and convective boundary layer structure in mountainous terrain and to identify the multi-scale processes responsible for this variability, 2) evaluate and improve numerical model representations of transport and mixing processes and associated orographic controls on aerosol distributions and convective boundary layer structure, and 3) create engaging experiences for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students that will allow them acquire and apply scientific inquiry skills. This effort will utilize existing surface and airborne data sets including those from the T-REX (Terrain-induced Rotors Experiment) in which Doppler lidars play a critical role, as well as more comprehensive measurements from orbital platforms.The intellectual merit of this effort centers on development of more comprehensive data-driven descriptions of convectively-modified atmospheric behavior over complex terrain as well as new approaches for improved numerical representation of the effects of mountains on the lower atmosphere in regional and global models. Broader impacts of this effort will include significant learning experiences created through 1) the development of online modules enabling and encouraging scientific inquiry, 2) partnerships fostering national and international collaboration, and 3) hands-on activities involving field work and atmospheric modeling. A new meteorological facility in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia is at the core of the hands-on student educational component of this effort, and will also allow for outreach to park visitors. National and international collaboration will take place with short-term visits from international research fellows and underrepresented undergraduate students during five summers. The development of online modules, hands-on experiences and national and international collaboration will promote lasting knowledge of scientific principles in mountain meteorology. In the longer term, results from this study will be relevant for a wide range of applications including weather prediction, regional and global climate, and air quality management.