Global Effects Simulation Studies
Abstract
This document reviews the initial rise of a fire plume in the atmosphere, including effects of the condensation of entrained moisture. The condensation, expansion, and evaporation of the water cloud are examined, as are the relative effects of scattering and absorption in radiation transport through the gray-white smoke plume and a wood fire. For applications to the Nuclear Winter problem, the following points are made as recommendations for further work in critical areas: 1. The climatic impact of a smoke plume depends significantly on its height in the atmosphere, which is affected by long-term atmospheric motions and in particular by solar-induced buoyancy as well as by initial plume rise. This long-term behavior can be studied by using Artic-Haze data. 2. For a given optical thickness, the absorptive (black, sooty) component of smoke (due largely to oil and oil-related fuels) is much more effective in reducing the transmission of sunlight and thus in producing climatic cooling than is the largely scattering (white-gray) component which predominates in most wood fires. The smoke characteristics tend to change with time, and thus for climatic application should be investigated as late as possible after injection into the atmosphere. This in turn, requires using smoke from the largest possible sources which can be studied for the longest times.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA182501
Entities
People
- Craig Chandler
- Ernest Bauer
- Frank A. Albini
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses