Effects of Coordinate Rotation on Turbulent Flux Measurements during Wintertime Haze Pollution in Beijing, China

Abstract

Eddy-covariance observations from the Beijing 325-m meteorological tower are used to evaluate the effects of coordinate rotation on the turbulent exchange of momentum and scalars during wintertime haze pollution(January-February 2013). Two techniques are used in the present evaluation; namely, the natural wind coordinate(NWC) and the planar fit coordinate(PFC), with the latter being applied by means of two methods for linear regression(i.e., overall and sector-wise). The different techniques show a general agreement in both turbulent fluxes and transport efficiencies, especially evident at the lower, 140-m level above the ground(compared to the higher, 280-m level), perhaps implying that the selection of a technique for coordinate rotation(NWC or PFC) is less of a concern for a sufficiently low level, despite the complexities of urban terrain. Additionally, sector-wise regression is a recommended approach for practical application of the PFC in a complex urban environment subjected to particulate pollution, because this method is found to produce a better correlation between the mean vertical velocity at the 140- and 280-m heights.