Linking urban aerosol fluxes in street canyons to larger scale emissions

Abstract

In this study we investigate ultrafine particle (UFP) fluxes using a first order eddy viscosity turbulence closure Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model and determine the different factors that influence emissions of UFP into the urban boundary layer. Both vertical turbulent fluxes as well as the fluxes due to mean circulatory flow are shown to contribute to the overall ventilation characteristics of street canyons. We then derive a simple parameterised numerical prediction model for canyon top UFP venting which is then compared with tower based micrometeorological flux measurements obtained during the REPARTEE & CityFlux field experiments.