TITLE:
Numerical Modeling of Dust Propagation in the Atmosphere of a City with Complex Terrain. The Case of Background Eastern Light Air
AUTHORS:
Aleksandre Surmava, Vepkhia Kukhalashvili, Natia Gigauri, Liana Intskirveli, George Kordzakhia
KEYWORDS:
Numerical Modeling, Pollution Source, Diffusion, Dust Distribution, Wind
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics,
Vol.8 No.7,
July
8,
2020
ABSTRACT: Micro-scale processes of dust distribution in the city of Tbilisi with very complex topography are modeled using a 3D regional model of atmospheric processes and numerical integration of the transport-diffusion equation of the impurity. The Terrain-following coordinate system is used to take into account the influence of a very complex relief on the process of atmospheric pollution. Modeling is carried out using horizontal grid steps of 300 m and 400 m along latitude and longitude, respectively. Cases of the stationary background eastern light air are considered. In the model, motor transport is considered as a nonstationary source of pollution from which dust is emitted into the atmosphere. Modeling of dust micro-scale diffusion process showed that the city air pollution depends on the spatial distribution of the main sources of city pollution, i.e. on vehicle traffic intensity, as well as on the spatial distribution of highways, and micro-orography of city and relief of the surrounding territories. It is shown that the dust pollution level in the surface layer of the atmosphere is minimal at 6 a.m. Ground-level concentration rapidly grows with the increase of vehicle traffic intensity and at 12 a.m. reaches maximum allowable concentration (MAC = 0.5 mg/m3) in the vicinity of central city mains. From 12 a.m. to 9 p.m. maximum dust concentration values are within the limits of 0.9 - 1.2 MAC. In the mentioned time interval formation of the high pollution zones, the slow growth of their areas and the value of ground-level concentrations take place. These zones are located in both central and peripheral parts of the city. Their disposition and area sizes depend on the spatial distribution of local wind-generated under the action of complex terrain, as well as on the processes of turbulent and advective dust transfer. From 9 p.m. to 24 p.m. reduction of dust pollution and ground-level concentration takes place. After midnight the city dust pollution process continues quasi-periodically.