Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran
The relationships between monthly recorded ground deposition rates (GDRs) and the spatiotemporal characteristics of dust concentrations in southwest Iran were investigated. A simulation by the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with the Chemistry modeling system (WRF-Chem) was conducted...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/757 |
| _version_ | 1797562131902627840 |
|---|---|
| author | Mansour A. Foroushani Christian Opp Michael Groll Amirhossein Nikfal |
| author_facet | Mansour A. Foroushani Christian Opp Michael Groll Amirhossein Nikfal |
| author_sort | Mansour A. Foroushani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The relationships between monthly recorded ground deposition rates (GDRs) and the spatiotemporal characteristics of dust concentrations in southwest Iran were investigated. A simulation by the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with the Chemistry modeling system (WRF-Chem) was conducted for dust deposition during 2014–2015. The monthly dust deposition values observed at 10 different gauge sites (G01–G10) were mapped to show the seasonal and spatial variations in dust episodes at each location. An analysis of the dust deposition samples, however, confirmed that the region along the deposition sites is exposed to the highest monthly dust load, which has a mean value of 2.4 mg cm<sup>−2</sup>. In addition, the study area is subjected to seasonally varying deposition, which follows the trend: spring > summer > winter > fall. The modeling results further demonstrate that the increase in dust emissions is followed by a windward convergence over the region (particularly in the spring and summer). Based on the maximum likelihood classification of land use land cover, the modeling results are consistent with observation data at gauge sites for three scenarios [S.I, S.II, and S.III]. The WRF model, in contrast with the corresponding observation data, reveals that the rate factor decreases from the southern [S.III—G08, G09, and G10] through [S.II—G04, G05, G06, and G07] to the northern points [S.I—G01, G02, and G03]. A narrower gap between the modeling results and GDRs is indicated if there is an increase in the number of dust particles moving to lower altitudes or an increase in the dust resident time at high altitudes. The quality of the model forecast is altered by the deposition rate and is sensitive to land surface properties and interactions among land and climate patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0a2ab11fba64821b2432e92767edf10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0a2ab11fba64821b2432e92767edf102023-11-20T07:09:24ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-07-0111775710.3390/atmos11070757Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern IranMansour A. Foroushani0Christian Opp1Michael Groll2Amirhossein Nikfal3Department of Geography, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, GermanyAtmospheric Science and Meteorological Research Center (ASMERC), Tehran 14965-114, IranThe relationships between monthly recorded ground deposition rates (GDRs) and the spatiotemporal characteristics of dust concentrations in southwest Iran were investigated. A simulation by the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with the Chemistry modeling system (WRF-Chem) was conducted for dust deposition during 2014–2015. The monthly dust deposition values observed at 10 different gauge sites (G01–G10) were mapped to show the seasonal and spatial variations in dust episodes at each location. An analysis of the dust deposition samples, however, confirmed that the region along the deposition sites is exposed to the highest monthly dust load, which has a mean value of 2.4 mg cm<sup>−2</sup>. In addition, the study area is subjected to seasonally varying deposition, which follows the trend: spring > summer > winter > fall. The modeling results further demonstrate that the increase in dust emissions is followed by a windward convergence over the region (particularly in the spring and summer). Based on the maximum likelihood classification of land use land cover, the modeling results are consistent with observation data at gauge sites for three scenarios [S.I, S.II, and S.III]. The WRF model, in contrast with the corresponding observation data, reveals that the rate factor decreases from the southern [S.III—G08, G09, and G10] through [S.II—G04, G05, G06, and G07] to the northern points [S.I—G01, G02, and G03]. A narrower gap between the modeling results and GDRs is indicated if there is an increase in the number of dust particles moving to lower altitudes or an increase in the dust resident time at high altitudes. The quality of the model forecast is altered by the deposition rate and is sensitive to land surface properties and interactions among land and climate patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/757dust deposition rateWRF-Chemclimate zoneIran |
| spellingShingle | Mansour A. Foroushani Christian Opp Michael Groll Amirhossein Nikfal Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran Atmosphere dust deposition rate WRF-Chem climate zone Iran |
| title | Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran |
| title_full | Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran |
| title_short | Evaluation of WRF-Chem Predictions for Dust Deposition in Southwestern Iran |
| title_sort | evaluation of wrf chem predictions for dust deposition in southwestern iran |
| topic | dust deposition rate WRF-Chem climate zone Iran |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/757 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mansouraforoushani evaluationofwrfchempredictionsfordustdepositioninsouthwesterniran AT christianopp evaluationofwrfchempredictionsfordustdepositioninsouthwesterniran AT michaelgroll evaluationofwrfchempredictionsfordustdepositioninsouthwesterniran AT amirhosseinnikfal evaluationofwrfchempredictionsfordustdepositioninsouthwesterniran |