A High-Resolution Urban Canopy/Land-Surface Modeling System
Abstract
Heterogeneities in land-surface characteristics that occur in transitions from a large coastal city to the suburbs and then to the rural countryside can significantly alter the lower portion of the atmosphere through mechanical and thermodynamical interactions. For example, urban-rural interfaces, both upwind and downwind of the urban region, are often preferred zones for the initiation of atmospheric convection or modification of ongoing convection. Changes in the vertical profile of atmospheric static stability in the lowest portion of the atmosphere due to such heterogeneous surface forcing can have an important impact on transport and dispersion of potentially harmful chemical/biological agents. Thus, with a large percentage of the world's population living in coastal urban areas and an increasing emphasis of Naval fleet operations in coastal regions, an accurate characterization of high-resolution processes in numerical weather prediction models will greatly improve local forecasts for populations at risk as well as military operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA523954
Entities
People
- T. R. Holt
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory