Numerical Modelling of Dust Distribution in the Atmosphere of a City With Complex Relief

Abstract

Microscale processes of dust distribution in the city of Tbilisi with a 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. The cases of the stationary background eastern and western weak winds are considered. In the model, motor transport is considered as a nonstationary source of pollution from which dust is emitted into the atmosphere. Modelling of dust micro-scale diffusion process showed that the city air pollution depends on spatial distribution of the main sources of city pollution, i.e. on vehicle traffic intensity, as well as on spatial distribution of highways, and micro-orography of city and 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 increase of vehicle traffic intensity and by 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 highly dusty zones, and slow growth of their areas and 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 spatial distribution of local wind generated under action of complex terrain, as well as on the processes of turbulent and advective dust transfer. From 9 to 12 p.m. reduction of dust pollution and ground-level concentration takes place. After the midnight city dust pollution process continues quasi-periodically. As result of the analysis of vertical distribution of dust concentration is obtained that a basic dust mass emitted into the atmosphere is located in the 100 m surface layer. Concentration value in the upper part of this layer reaches 0.8 MAC and rapidly decreases with altitude increase.

PM2.5 and PM10 in the Atmosphere of Kutaisi City

“…Routine observations have been made in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi and Batumi. Some results of this monitoring have been analyzed in the works [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Summarized results of studies of air pollution in Kutaisi and its surroundings by particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 are presented below.…”