Peter J. Sturm

A New Method to Estimate Diffusion in Stable, Low-Wind Conditions

Abstract Sonic anemometer observations were made 10 m above ground level for a period of 1 yr. From these data, Eulerian autocorrelation functions were computed for the horizontal and vertical wind velocity fluctuations for low wind speeds. Although the autocorrelation function for the vertical velocity component exhibited the well-known exponential form, the function for the horizontal components of the wind vector showed a negative loop for all stability classes at low wind speeds. This result might be an effect of low-frequency meandering of the flow. Observations of the standard deviations of the vertical wind component confirmed the proportionality with the friction velocity, though with a slightly lower constant of proportionality than has been found by other authors. A Lagrangian dispersion model (LDM) with random time steps and a negative intercorrelation parameter ρu,υ for the horizontal wind components was used to take the first of the above-mentioned findings into account. In a simple test case...

VALIDATION OF EMISSION FACTORS FOR ROAD VEHICLES BASED ON STREET TUNNEL MEASUREMENTS

The emission behaviour of road vehicles is regularly estimated by the use of emission factors and models. But there is only limited information available about the validity of such factors or models in real world situations. This is because validation requires roadside measurements and these add an additional element of uncertainty in the form of pollutant dispersion behaviour. Tunnel measurements can help to overcome this problem. Road tunnels can be used as big laboratories because the boundary conditions within such tunnels are well known. Such measurements were undertaken in a 10 km long road tunnel in Austria for a period of six weeks during autumn 1998 and another four weeks during spring 1999. An analysis of the data showed that CO emissions derived from the measurements were in good agreement with the emission factors; surprisingly, this was not the case for NOx, especially for NOx emissions from heavy duty vehicles. Due to the fact that the HDV share of the traffic was up to 35% of total traffic volume the effects of unbalanced emission factors were considerable. Differences of up to a factor of 1.6 between measured and calculated emission factors were recorded.

A simple model for the dispersion of pollutants from a road tunnel portal

Abstract The dispersion of pollutants from a roadway tunnel portal is mainly determined by the interaction between the ambient wind and the jet stream from the tunnel portal. In principal, Eulerian microscale models by solving the conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy, are thus able to simulate effects such as buoyancy etc. properly. However, for engineering applications such models need too much CPU time, and are not easy to handle by non-scientific personnel. Only a few dispersion models, applicable for regulatory purposes, have so far appeared in the literature. These models are either empirical models not always applicable for different sites, or they do not capture important physical effects like buoyancy phenomena. Here, a rather simple model is presented, which takes into account most of the important processes considered to govern the dispersion of a jet stream from portals. These are the exit velocity, the buoyancy, the influence of ambient wind direction fluctuations on the position of the jet stream, and traffic induced turbulence. Although the model contains some heuristic elements, it was successfully tested against tracer experiments taken near a motorway tunnel portal in Austria. The model requires relatively little CPU time. Current limitations of the model include the neglect of terrain, building, and vehicle effects on the dispersion, and the neglect of the horizontal dispersion arising from entrainment of ambient air in the jet stream. The latter could lead to an underestimation of plume spreads for higher wind speeds. The validation of the model will be the focus of future research. The experimental data set is also available for the scientific community.

Lagrangian dispersion modeling of vehicular emissions from a highway in complex terrain

Abstract Transit traffic through the Austrian Alps is of major concern in government policy. Pollutant burdens resulting from such traffic are discussed widely in Austrian politics and have already led to measures to restrict traffic on transit routes. In the course of an environmental assessment study, comprehensive measurements were performed. These included air quality observations using passive samplers, a differential optical absorption spectroscopy system, a mobile and a fixed air quality monitoring station, and meteorological observations. As was evident from several previous studies, dispersion modeling in such areas of complex terrain and, moreover, with frequent calm wind conditions, is difficult to handle. Further, in the case presented here, different pollutant sources had to be treated simultaneously (e.g., road networks, exhaust chimneys from road tunnels, and road tunnel portals). No appropriate system for modeling all these factors has so far appeared in the literature. A prognostic wind field model coupled with a Lagrangian dispersion model is thus presented here and is designed to treat all these factors. A comparison of the modeling system with results from passive samplers and from a fixed air quality monitoring station proved the ability of the model to provide reasonable figures for concentration distributions along the A10.

Measurements of aircraft emissions indices at airports passive remote sensing

The emission indices of aircraft engine exhausts to calculate precisely the emissions inventories of airports are not available up to now from measurements taken under operating conditions. To determine these data no installations nearby or behind the aircraft are possible at airports. Thats why measurements by FTIR emission spectrometry were performed by the IMK-IFU with a spectrometer installed in a van and with total measurement time at one thrust level of about 1 minute to determine CO, NO and CO2. The FTIR instrument telescope was aligned to the engine nozzle exit of standing aircraft. A DOAS and a FTIR spectrometer with globar were used for simultaneous open-path measurements of NO, NO2, CO, CO2 and speciated hydrocarbons behind the aircraft by the TUG-VKMB. Measurement results at the airports Frankfurt/Main, London-Heathrow and Vienna are presented. The methods are evaluated by comparing CO emission indices from passive measurements with open-path data. The measured emission indices of CO show slightly higher values than the International Civil Aviation Organisation data sheets but less values for NOx emissions. A fruitful co-operation with the airlines AUA, BA and DLH as well as the airport authorities in Vienna and London-Heathrow supported this work which is financed from EC.