North American Monsoon 2006 WRF-Chem Simulation
Summary
The North American Monsoon 2006 WRF-Chem Simulation is a convective system resolution simulation over the United States and most of Mexico. The simulation begins on July 10, 2006 and is being integrated for 1-2 months. The results from the simulation will investigate 1) the role of the North American Monsoon in influencing upper troposphere ozone, and 2) air quality during the summer 2006 heat waves and wild fires.
Participants
- Mary Barth and Alma Hodzic, Principal Investigators
- Jeff Lee, Software Engineer
- Gabriele Pfister, Christine Wiedinmyer, Louisa Emmons
Model Configuration
Model Results -- find evaluation with observations and 3-hourly output of some variables
Feature: Animation of Convective Transport
| WRF-Chem Results for July 22-23, 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Radar Reflectivity | O3 at z = 10 km | CO at z = 10 km | Isoprene at z = 10 km |
 | |||
Figure: Animation of model radar reflectivity shows a front of thunderstorms moving from the midwest to the Gulf of Mexico. In the upper troposphere (at 10 km altitude), ozone (O3) mixing ratios are mostly between 70 and 100 ppbv. A band of high O3 is seen just behind the front. Carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios at 10 km are high (>100 ppbv) in convective outflow regions of the front. Isoprene, a species emitted by trees, has mixing ratios in the convective outflow regions of up to 1.5 ppbv. Because isoprene quickly reacts with OH, the extent of high isoprene mixing ratios is much more limited than that of CO.