Abstract
Abstract. An integrated method of advanced anisotropic hr-adaptive mesh and discretization numerical techniques has been, for first time, applied to modelling of multiscale advection–diffusion problems, which is based on a discontinuous Galerkin/control volume discretization on unstructured meshes. Over existing air quality models typically based on static-structured grids using a locally nesting technique, the advantage of the anisotropic hr-adaptive model has the ability to adapt the mesh according to the evolving pollutant distribution and flow features. That is, the mesh resolution can be adjusted dynamically to simulate the pollutant transport process accurately and effectively. To illustrate the capability of the anisotropic adaptive unstructured mesh model, three benchmark numerical experiments have been set up for two-dimensional (2-D) advection phenomena. Comparisons have been made between the results obtained using uniform resolution meshes and anisotropic adaptive resolution meshes. Performance achieved in 3-D simulation of power plant plumes indicates that this new adaptive multiscale model has the potential to provide accurate air quality modelling solutions effectively.
Highlights
It is well-known that the interaction of multiscale physical processes in atmospheric phenomena poses a formidable challenge for numerical modelling (Kühnlein, 2011)
A new anisotropic adaptive mesh technique has been introduced and applied to modelling of multiscale transport phenomena, which is a central component in air quality modelling systems
The first two benchmark test cases using the fixed mesh and adapted mesh schemes have been set up to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of anisotropic adaptive mesh technique, which is an important means to improve the competitiveness of unstructured mesh air quality models
Summary
It is well-known that the interaction of multiscale physical processes in atmospheric phenomena poses a formidable challenge for numerical modelling (Kühnlein, 2011). Largescale processes can trigger small-scale features that again have an important influence/feed back to the large scale (Behrens, 2007). The processes of tropical cyclone involve a range over a continuous spectrum of scales from the large-scale flow environment ∼ O(106–107) m, tropical cyclone itself ∼ O(105–106) m, embedded eye wall and rainbands ∼ O(103–104) m, as well as down to microscales of the boundary layer turbulence ∼ O(10–102) m (Kühnlein, 2011). The initial transformation of emissions from urban and industrial centres or dispersion of plumes from large power plant stacks occur on relatively small scales, but would be engaged to much larger scales after long range transport. It is a gargantuan computational challenge to modelling large regions with uniform resolution at the finest relevant scale. Mesh adaptation may be the only effective way to encompass different scales (e.g. local, urban, regional, global)
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