Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Investigating processes influencing simulation of local Arctic wintertime anthropogenic pollution in Fairbanks, Alaska, during ALPACA-2022
 
research article

Investigating processes influencing simulation of local Arctic wintertime anthropogenic pollution in Fairbanks, Alaska, during ALPACA-2022

Brett, Natalie
•
Law, Kathy
•
Arnold, Steve
Show more
January 28, 2025
Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics

Lagrangian tracer simulations are deployed to investigate processes influencing vertical and horizontal dispersion of anthropogenic pollution in Fairbanks, Alaska, during the Alaskan Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) 2022 field campaign. Simulated concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), and nitrogen oxides (NO x), including surface and elevated sources, are the highest at the surface under very cold stable conditions. Pollution enhancements above the surface (50-300 m) are mainly attributed to elevated power plant emissions. Both surface and elevated sources contribute to Fairbanks' regional pollution that is transported downwind, primarily to the southwest , and may contribute to wintertime Arctic haze. Inclusion of a novel power plant plume rise treatment that considers the presence of surface and elevated temperature inversion layers leads to improved agreement with observed CO and NO x plumes, with discrepancies attributed to, for example, displacement of plumes by modelled winds. At the surface, model results show that observed CO variability is largely driven by meteorology and, to a lesser extent, by emissions, although simulated tracers are sensitive to modelled vertical dispersion. Modelled underestimation of surface NO x during very cold polluted conditions is considerably improved following the inclusion of substantial increases in diesel vehicle NO x emissions at cold temperatures (e.g. a factor of 6 at −30 °C). In contrast, overestimation of surface SO 2 is attributed mainly to model deficiencies in vertical dispersion of elevated (5-18 m) space heating emissions. This study highlights the need for improvements to local wintertime Arctic anthropogenic surface and elevated emissions and improved simulation of Arctic stable boundary layers.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Brettetal_ACP_ALPACA.pdf

Type

Main Document

Version

Published version

Access type

openaccess

License Condition

CC BY

Size

22.72 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

9057a04e9ac5dace00c3f228ef7602bd

Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés