A simulation of wind and air pollution over complex terrain using a hydrostatic numerical model

Abstract

A hydrostatic wind model used in conjunction with a grid-type air pollution model is applied to the diffusion experiments which were carried out by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute at Mt. Tsukuba, an 870 m mountain located to the north of Tokyo, Japan. The model can qualitatively simulate the flow pattern and concentration distribution, including divided plumes over the mountain. Even though the horizontal scale of the topography is theoretically not sufficiently larger than the vertical scale, the calculated concentration results are in no serious disagreement with those observed. The concentration distribution is quite sensitive to the surface soil temperature. This is as important as the ambient wind velocity and the vertical temperature profile.