Large-eddy-simulation study on turbulent particle deposition and its dependence on atmospheric-boundary-layer stability

Abstract

Abstract. It is increasingly recognized that atmospheric-boundary-layer stability (ABLS) plays an important role in eolian processes. While the effects of ABLS on particle emission have attracted much attention and been investigated in several studies, those on particle deposition have so far been less well studied. By means of large-eddy simulation, we investigate how ABLS influences the probability distribution of surface shear stress and hence particle deposition. Statistical analysis of the model results reveals that the shear stress can be well approximated using a Weibull distribution, and the ABLS influences on particle deposition can be estimated by considering the shear stress fluctuations. The model-simulated particle depositions are compared with the predictions of a particle-deposition scheme and measurements, and the findings are then used to improve the particle-deposition scheme. This research represents a further step towards developing deposition schemes that account for the stochastic nature of particle processes.