Employing a Lagrangian stochastic dispersion model and classical diffusion experiments to evaluate two turbulence parameterization schemes

Considering a Lagrangian stochastic particle dispersion model and diffusion experiments, two turbulence parameterizations have been tested. The parameters obtained from the Taylor turbulence parameterization are derived from observed spectral properties and characteristics of energy containing eddies. Taylor turbulence scheme provides continuous values for the turbulent parameters in the planetary boundary layer. Hanna turbulence parameterization is obtained from theoretical considerations and second-order closure models and it does not provide continuous vertical profiles for the turbulent parameters. The predicted values by a Lagrangian diffusion model utilizing Taylor turbulence parameterization and the Hanna turbulence scheme are compared with observed concentration data from diffusion experiments. The use of Taylor turbulence scheme resulted in better results. (C) Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.