A single-column particle-resolved model for simulating the vertical distribution of aerosol mixing state: WRF-PartMC-MOSAIC-SCM v1.0

• Published in: Geoscientific Model Development Vol. 10; no. 11; pp. 4057 - 4079
• Main Authors: Curtis, Jeffrey H., Riemer, Nicole, West, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 09.11.2017; Copernicus Publications, EGU; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Aerosol concentrations; Aerosol particles; Aerosols; Algorithms; Altitude; Analysis; Atmosphere; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric models; Black carbon; Boundary conditions; Boundary layers; Carbon; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Computer simulation; Distribution; Dry deposition; Dye dispersion; Eddy diffusion; Environmental aspects; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Evolution; Exact solutions; Frameworks; Gases; Mathematical models; Methods; Modelling; Numerical weather prediction; Optical properties; Particle dynamics; Particle methods (mathematics); Planetary boundary layer; Spatial distribution; Turbulence; Turbulent diffusion; Vertical distribution
• ISSN: 1991-9603; 1991-959X; 1991-962X; 1991-9603; 1991-962X
• DOI: 10.5194/gmd-10-4057-2017

The PartMC-MOSAIC particle-resolved aerosol model was previously developed to predict the aerosol mixing state as it evolves in the atmosphere. However, the modeling framework was limited to a zero-dimensional box model approach without resolving spatial gradients in aerosol concentrations. This paper presents the development of stochastic particle methods to simulate turbulent diffusion and dry deposition of aerosol particles in a vertical column within the planetary boundary layer. The new model, WRF-PartMC-MOSAIC-SCM, resolves the vertical distribution of aerosol mixing state. We verified the new algorithms with analytical solutions for idealized test cases and illustrate the capabilities with results from a 2-day urban scenario that shows the evolution of black carbon mixing state in a vertical column.