The Effect of the Vertical Source Distribution on Scalar Statistics within and above a Forest Canopy

• Published in: Boundary-layer meteorology Vol. 142; no. 3; pp. 365 - 382
• Main Authors: Edburg, S. L., Stock, D., Lamb, B. K., Patton, E. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Boundaries; Boundary layer; Canopies; Convection, turbulence, diffusion. Boundary layer structure and dynamics; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Fluxes; Forests; Grounds; Marine; Meteorology; Scalars; Segregations; Simulation; Statistics; Turbulence; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Forest canopy; Scalar transport; Biogenic volatile organic compounds; Turbulence; Dispersion; Large-eddy simulation; aerosols; volatile organic compounds; Trace compound; Source sink relationship; turbulence; forests; intensity; Biogenic factor; Large eddy simulation; Source localization; organic compounds; correlation coefficient; Canopy(vegetation); Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0006-8314; 1573-1472
• DOI: 10.1007/s10546-011-9686-1

Little is known about in-canopy processes that may alter forest–atmosphere exchanges of trace gases and aerosols. To improve our understanding of in-canopy mixing, we use large-eddy simulation to study the effect of scalar source/sink distributions on scalar concentration moments, fluxes, and correlation coefficients within and above an ideal forest canopy. Scalars are emitted from: (1) the ground, (2) the canopy, and (3) both the ground and the canopy; a scalar is also deposited onto the canopy. All scalar concentration moments, fluxes, and correlation coefficients are affected by the source location/distribution, as is the scalar segregation intensity. We conclude that vertical source/sink distribution has a profound impact on scalar concentration profiles, fluxes, correlation coefficient, and scalar segregation.