Abstract
Abstract This research examined whether tropospheric sulfate ion aerosols (SO4 2−) might be applied at a regional scale to mitigate meteorological phenomena with extremely high daily temperatures. The specific objectives of this work were: 1) to model the behaviour of SO4 2−aerosols in the troposphere and their influence on surface temperature and incident solar radiation, at a regional scale, using an appropriate online coupled mesoscale meteorology and chemistry model; 2) to determine the main engineering design parameters using tropospheric SO4 2−aerosols in order to artificially reduce the temperature and incoming radiation at surface during events of extremely high daily temperatures, and 3) to evaluate a preliminary technical proposal for the injection of regionally engineered tropospheric SO4 2−aerosols based on the integral anti-hail system of the Province of Mendoza. In order to accomplish these objectives, we used the Weather Research & Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) to model and evaluate the behaviour of tropospheric SO4 2−over the Province of Mendoza (Argentina) (PMA) on a clear sky day during a heat wave event occurred in January 2012. In addition, using WRF/Chem, we evaluated the potential reductions on surface temperature and incident shortwave radiation around the metropolitan area of Great Mendoza, PMA, based on an artificially designed aerosol layer and on observed meteorological parameters. The results demonstrated the ability of WRF/Chem to represent the behaviour of tropospheric SO4 2− aerosols at a regional scale and suggested that the inclusion of these aerosols in the atmosphere causes changes in the surface energy balance and, therefore, in the surface temperature and the regional atmospheric circulation. However, it became evident that, given the high rate of injection and the large amount of mass required for its practical implementation by means of the technology currently used by the anti-hail program, it is inefficient and energetically costly.
Highlights
Atmospheric aerosols play a key role in the climate system [1], [2]
The primary objective of this research was to examine whether aerosol emissions, considered by geoengineering on a global scale [95], might be applied to mitigate meteorological phenomena with extremely high daily temperatures on a regional scale
In order to accomplish the abovementioned objectives, we used the WRF/Chem [57], [58] to model and evaluate the behaviour of tropospheric SO42− at the regional scale over the Province of Mendoza (Argentina) on a clear sky day during a heat wave event which occurred in January 2012
Summary
Atmospheric aerosols play a key role in the climate system [1], [2]. They may influence the global radiation balance directly through the dispersion and absorption of the incident shortwave radiation (solar radiation) and the outgoing longwave radiation [3], [4], and semi-directly through changes in the structure of atmospheric temperature and in the evaporation rate of cloud droplets (i.e. fire cloud effect, [5], [6]). Anthropogenic and natural sources of sulfate aerosols are more abundant in the troposphere than in the stratosphere (Table 2 and Table 3, [12]). In addition to aerosol abundance, stratospheric and tropospheric aerosols differ in lifetime. Sulfate aerosols can reside in the stratosphere for several months up to several years [13], and in the troposphere sulfate aerosols have a lifetime of a few weeks [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
