• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.551-566
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• 2019

Quantitative understanding of a random error that is associated with Lagrangian particle dispersion modeling is a prerequisite for backward-in-time mode simulations. This study aims to quantify the random error of the WRF-FLEXPART model and suggest an optimum number of the Lagrangian particles for backward-in-time simulations over the Seoul metropolitan area. A series of backward-in-time simulations of the WRF-FLEXPART model has conducted at two receptor points by changing the number of Lagrangian particles and the relative error, as a quantitative indicator of random error, is analyzed to determine the optimum number of the release particles. The results show that in the Seoul metropolitan area a 1-day Lagrangian transport contributes 80~90% in residence time and ~100% in atmospheric enhancement of carbon monoxide. The relative errors in both the residence time and the atmospheric concentration enhancement are larger when the particles release in the daytime than in the nighttime, and in the inland area than in the coastal area. The sensitivity simulations reveal that the relative errors decrease with increasing the number of Lagrangian particles. The use of small number of Lagrangian particles caused significant random errors, which is attributed to the random number sampling process. For the particle number of 6000, the relative error in the atmospheric concentration enhancement is estimated as -6% ± 10% with reduction of computational time to 21% ± 7% on average. This study emphasizes the importance of quantitative analyses of the random errors in interpreting backward-in-time simulations of the WRF-FLEXPART model and in determining the number of Lagrangian particles as well.

• Atmosphere
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2013

Atmospheric transport pathway of an air mass is an important constraint controlling the chemical properties of the air mass observed at a designated location. Such information could be utilized for understanding observed temporal variabilities in atmospheric concentrations of long-lived chemical compounds, of which sinks and/or sources are related particularly with natural and/or anthropogenic processes in the surface, and as well as for performing inversions to constrain the fluxes of such compounds. The Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART provides a useful tool for estimating detailed particle dispersion during atmospheric transport, a significant improvement over traditional "single-line" trajectory models that have been widely used. However, those without a modeling background seeking to create simple back-trajectory maps may find it challenging to optimize FLEXPART for their needs. In this study, we explain how to set up, operate, and optimize FLEXPART for back-trajectory analysis, and also provide automatization programs based on the open-source R language. Discussions include setting up an "AVAILABLE" file (directory of input meteorological fields stored on the computer), creating C-shell scripts for initiating FLEXPART runs and storing the output in directories designated by date, as wells as processing the FLEXPART output to create figures for a back-trajectory "footprint" (potential emission sensitivity within the boundary layer). Step by step instructions are explained for an example case of calculating back trajectories derived for Anmyeon-do, Korea for January 2011. One application is also demonstrated in interpreting observed variabilities in atmospheric $CO_2$ concentration at Anmyeon-do during this period. Back-trajectory modeling information introduced in this study should facilitate the creation and automation of most common back-trajectory calculation needs in atmospheric research.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.327-337
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• 2012

Air pollution inventories are aggregated around south-eastern part of the Korean Peninsular including Busan, Ulsan, and Changwon cities. Because densely populated cities are concentrated in this region, air pollutants emitted from one of these cities tend to be impacted on the air quality of other cities. In order to clarify the seasonal movement pattern of emitted particles, several numerical simulations using WRF/FLEXPART were carried out. Four cases were selected for each season. The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) reproduced atmospheric flow fields with nested grids. The seasonal pattern of air mass of study area was determined by backward and forward trajectories. As a result, the air parcel moves from northwest to southeast due to northwesterly winds in spring and winter. Also air parcel transports from south to north in summer, and moves from west to east. Because the air mass moves differently in each season, these characteristics should be considered when performing air quality analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.375-376
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• 2017

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.237-248
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• 2014

To analyze the characteristics of deposition and dispersion of volcanic ash emitted from Mt. Kirishima on January 26, 2011, several numerical simulations were carried out by using the numerical models including Weather and Research Forecast (WRF) and FLEXPART. The dispersion of ash located under 1 km high tends to be concentrated along the prevailing wind direction on January 26 2011. On the other hand, volcanic ash released on the following day spreads to Kirishima bay due to the intensified high pressure air mass in southern Kyushu. When Siberian air mass was intensified January 26, 2011, the deposition of volcanic ash is concentrated restrictedly in the narrow area along the wind direction of the downwind side of Mt. Kirishima. The development of high pressure air mass over the eruption area tends to induce the intensified horizontal diffusion of volcanic ash. Since the estimated deposition of volcanic ash is agreed well with observed values, the proposed numerical simulation is reasonable to use the assessment on the behavior of volcanic ash.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.157-170
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• 2010

Air mass recirculation is a common characteristic in the coastal area as a result of the land-sea breeze circulation. This study simulates the recirculation of air mass over the Gwangyang Bay using WRF-FLEXPART and offers a basic information about the effective domain size that can reflect recirculation. For this purpose, WRF is set up four nested domains and three cases are selected. Subsequently FLEXPART is operated on the basis of WRF output. During the clear summer days with weak wind speed, particles that emitted from Yeosu national industrial complex and Gwangyang iron works flow into emission sources because of the land-sea breeze. When land-sea breeze is strengthen, the recirculation phenomena appears clearly. However particles aren't recirculated under weak synoptic condition. Also plume trajectory is analyzed and as a consequence, the smallest domain area have to be multiplied by 1.3 to understand recirculated dispersion pattern of particles.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.280-293
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• 2012

In order to clarify the characteristics of dispersion of volcanic tephra emitted from the Mt. Baegdu with various eruption environment, numerical analysis were performed using numerical models, Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) and FLEXPART. Synoptic conditions at 12 October 2010 was adopted because the volcanic ash of Mt. Baegdu can reach the Korean peninsula and its dispersion pattern was compared with different Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and particle size. Predominant size of falling out ash flowing in the peninsular is smaller than 0.5 mm and the ash large than the size is difficult to get in the peninsular due to the its weak ability of truculent diffusion. the difference of ash distribution with various VEI scenarios is not so much but number density of ash in the air is dramatically changed. Volcanic ash tends to be deposited easily in eastern coastal area such as Gangneung and Busan, because of the inflow of ash from East Sea and barrier effect of the Taeback mountains along the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. Accumulated amount of ash deposition can be increased in short period in several urban areas.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.360-372
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• 2011

In order to clarify the advection and dispersion characteristics of volcanic tephra to be emitted from the Mt. Baekdu, several numerical experiments were carried out using three-dimensional atmospheric dynamic model, Weather and Research Forecast (WRF) and Laglangian particles dispersion model FLEXPART. Four different temporally averaged meteorological values including wind speed and direction were used, and their averaged intervals of meteorological values are 1 month, 10 days, and 3days, respectively. Real time simulation without temporal averaging is also established in this study. As averaging time of meteorological elements is longer, wind along the principle direction is stronger. On the other hands, the tangential direction wind tends to be clearer when the time become shorten. Similar tendency was shown in the distribution of volcanic tephra because the dispersion of particles floating in the atmosphere is strongly associated with wind pattern. Wind transporting the volcanic tephra is divided clearly into upper and lower region and almost ash arriving the Korean Peninsula is released under 2 km high above the ground. Since setting up the temporal averaging of meteorological values is one of the critical factors to determine the density of tephra in the air and their surface deposition, reasonable time for averaging meteorological values should be established before the numerical dispersion assessment of volcanic tephra.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.425-436
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• 2018

To establish initial response scenarios for nuclear accidents around the Kori nuclear power plants, the potential for radionuclide diffusion was estimated using numerical experiments and statistical techniques. This study used the numerical model WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) and FLEXPART (Flexible Particle dispersion model) to calculate the three-dimensional wind field and radionuclide dispersion, respectively. The wind patterns observed at Gijang, near the plants, and at meteorological sites in Busan, were reproduced and applied to estimates of seasonally averaged wind fields. The distribution of emitted radionuclides are strongly associated with characteristics of topography and synoptic wind patterns over nuclear power plants. Since the terrain around the power plants is complex, estimates of radionuclide distribution often produce unexpected results when wind data from different sites are used in statistical calculations. It is highly probable that in the summer and autumn, radionuclides move south-west, towards the downtown metropolitan area. This study has clear limitations in that it uses the seasonal wind field rather than the daily wind field.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.591-605
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• 2010

Recirculation of airmass in coastal region occurs because of the change from land to sea breeze and was shown to produce a contrary result on air quality. This study examines the numerical simulation to analyze the effect of recirculation flow in Gwangyang Bay, Korea. For this purpose two case studies are performed by the WRF-FLEXPART-CMAQ modeling system, each for a different Meso-Synoptic Index. Additionally this research make a comparative study of large domain (Domain L) and small domain (Domain S). The horizontal wind fields are simulated from WRF. Changes in the land-sea breeze have an effect on the particle dispersion modeling. The numerical simulation of air quality is carried out to investigate the recirculation of ozone. Ozone is transported to eastward under strong synoptic condition (Case_strong) because of westerly synoptic flow and this pattern can confirm in all domain. However ozone swept off by the land breeze and then transported to northward along sea breeze under conditions of clear sky and weak winds (Case_weak). In this case re-advected ozone isn't simulate in Domain S. The study found that recirculation of airmass must be concerned when numerical simulation of air quality is performed in coastal region, especially on a sunny day.