Recorded presentationJ1.4
Modeling the transport and dispersion of smoke aerosols from the May 2007 Georgia fires
Yuling Wu, Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville, AL; and U. U. Nair, T. Jones, and S. A. Christopher
Smoke aerosols generated from massive biomass burning in southern Georgia in May 2007 were observed to transport over 1000km, making significant impact on air quality in the neighboring states. We will assess the impact of these smoke aerosols on particulate matter air quality via numerical modeling simulations with satellite-inferred emission rates (fire counts). Taking advantage of the ability of the Land Ecosystem Atmosphere Feedback (LEAF) module and surface characteristics data, RAMS is coupled with an aerosol module (AERO-RAMS) accounting for emission and removal processes to perform the simulation task. In addition, the uncertainties in the satellite derived emission rate and in the injection height, a very important factor in the smoke transport and dispersion, will also be addressed. Although some research found evidence that biomass burning plumes are mostly injected within the mixing layer, the smoke from the fires could be injected up to nearly 5 km into the free atmosphere. In that case, the smoke could be transported for long distances downstream before mixing with boundary layer and impacting surface air quality. Recorded presentation
Joint Session 1, Measurements and Modeling of Aerosols and Clouds-I
Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 1:30 PM-3:00 PM, 220
Previous paper Next paper