The Boundary Layer Dispersion and Footprint Model: A fast numerical solver of the Eulerian steady-state advection-diffusion equation

Abstract

Understanding how greenhouse gases and pollutants move through the atmosphere is essential for predicting and mitigating their effects. We present a novel atmospheric dispersion and footprint model: the Boundary Layer Dispersion and Footprint Model (BLDFM), which solves the three-dimensional steady-state advection-diffusion equation in Eulerian form using a numerical approach based on the Fourier method, the linear shooting method and the exponential integrator method. The model is designed to be flexible and can be used for a wide range of applications, including climate impact studies, industrial emissions monitoring, agricultural planning and spatial flux attribution. We validate the model using an analytical test case. The numerical results show excellent agreement with the analytical solution. We also compare the model with the Kormann and Meixner (Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 2001) footprint model (FKM), and the results show overall good agreement but some differences in the fetch of the footprints, which are attributed to the neglect of streamwise turbulent mixing in the FKM model. Our results demonstrate the potential of the BLDFM model as a useful tool for atmospheric scientists, biogeochemists, ecologists, and engineers.