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

该项目的目标是促进对以下方面的科学理解：(1)热驱动的跨盆地流动，以及它们如何被异质性植被和积雪覆盖以及更大规模的流动所改变；(2)夜间通过盆地周围地形的间隙和鞍区流入和流出，以及它们如何与现有冷空气池相互作用。这项工作对改善空气质量预报和交通安全具有很大的潜力。这个研究项目将研究高山小盆地Gruenloch的热驱动流和冷空气池的选定方面。数值模型模拟的目的是回答人们尚未完全理解的问题。该项目将与奥地利维也纳大学的科学家合作进行，他们在过去的12年里一直在Gruenloch盆地收集数据，并计划进行另一个更广泛的实地项目。Gruenloch盆地及其周围的地形非常适合这项研究。Gruenloch以强大的冷空气池和极端的最低温度而闻名，保持着中欧最低测量温度的记录。阿尔卑斯山脉周围复杂的地形，包括格鲁恩洛赫山脊线上的几个马鞍，允许形成与盆地大气相互作用的大规模白天和夜间流动。知识价值：这项研究的结果将促进对热驱动流和冷空气池的几个方面的理解，这在山地地形中经常发生。关于复杂的周围地形引起的地表条件和流动对跨盆地流动的影响以及盆地流出和流入对冷空气池的影响等明确的问题，人们还知之甚少。观测数据将用于评估和改进这一高度复杂地形的高分辨率建模性能。更广泛的影响：本研究的科学发现将促进对热驱动流和冷空气池的认识，有助于改进对这些现象的预测，这些现象强烈影响山区空气污染的运输和扩散、噪音传播、火灾传播和雾的形成。研究结果将通过期刊出版物、会议和受邀的研讨会演讲以及网站公布。研究结果将被纳入课堂讲座。

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.