A large-eddy simulation of a line source in a convective atmospheric boundary layer—II. Dynamics of a buoyant line source

Abstract

We consider a large-eddy simulation of a buoyant line source in a convective boundary layer. The motion of the line source as a function of time is influenced by two contributions: internal buoyancy (plume rise) and ambient turbulence. The advantage of large-eddy modelling with respect to laboratory and atmospheric experiments is that the simulations allow us to distinguish between these two contributions. For the part due to internal buoyancy we formulate an integral model for plume rise. A new feature in this model is the fact that plume looping, which is characteristic for plume dispersion in a convective boundary layer, promotes entrainment and therefore reduces plume rise. The contribution by ambient turbulence to plume motion is modelled in terms of the standard deviation of vertical velocity fluctuations. The results of these models are consistent with our large-eddy simulations.