Transcript State_Climatologist_Report_October_2010.ppt

Evaluation of Diurnal-Seasonal
Variation of PBL Depth in Maryland
Progress Report to MDE
October 1, 2010
Dr. Konstantin Vinnikov, Acting State Climatologist for Maryland
Prof. Russell Dickerson, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
University of Maryland at College Park, MD
•We have to study Diurnal/Seasonal variations of PBL depth to
understand and explain observed Diurnal/Seasonal variations in
PM2.5, SO2, O3, and other major pollutants in atmospheric air.
•We need observed PBL Depth for models validation.
•There is no direct observations of PBL Depth at Maryland. Micro
Pulse Lidar Network stations at GSFC, UMBC, and Beltsville are
trying to organize long lasting monitoring of this parameter.
•We begin to analyze observations PBL Depth at GSFC and discuss
our first results.
•We use wind profilers observations at Beltsville, MD to explain
GSFC observed PBL Depth observations.
•Work is in progress.
GSFC Lidar observations on September 1, 2008. [Judd Welton and
Tim Berkoff , GSFC/NASA]
PM2.5 vs. SO2
OBSERVED PM2.5
OBSERVED SO2
MD POWER PLANTS SO2
EMISSIONS
Observed PBL Depth data provided by Judd Welton and Tim Bertkoff (GSFC/NASA)
Result of smoothing vertical profiles of wind speed using 3rd order polynomial
fit of data observed in the lower 2 km atmospheric layer .
Work is in progress. The next steps are:
• October 13, 2010: Meeting with GSFC and UMBC experts to discuss
problems of PBL Depth information retrieval from Micro Pulse Lidar
observation.
• Evaluate opportunity for retrieving PBL Depth information from
observation of wind profiler at Beltsville, MD .
• Evaluate role of Low Level Jets (LLJ) in delivering moisture and
atmospheric pollutants from southern regions into Maryland.
• Study climatology (occurrence, intensity, timing, altitude, etc) of Low
Level Jets at Beltsville, MD vs. Fort Mede, MD.
• Better understanding of diurnal and seasonal variations of atmospheric
pollutants.
• Model validation.