Source–receptor matrix calculation for deposited mass with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART v10.2 in backward mode

Existing Lagrangian particle dispersion models are capable of establishing source–receptor relationships by running either forward or backward in time. For receptor-oriented studies such as interpretation of "point" measurement data, backward simulations can be computationally more efficie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geoscientific Model Development
Main Authors: S. Eckhardt, M. Cassiani, N. Evangeliou, E. Sollum, I. Pisso, A. Stohl
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-4605-2017
https://doaj.org/article/c159964e41814343bad33a5d5e046a94
Description
Summary:Existing Lagrangian particle dispersion models are capable of establishing source–receptor relationships by running either forward or backward in time. For receptor-oriented studies such as interpretation of "point" measurement data, backward simulations can be computationally more efficient by several orders of magnitude. However, to date, the backward modelling capabilities have been limited to atmospheric concentrations or mixing ratios. In this paper, we extend the backward modelling technique to substances deposited at the Earth's surface by wet scavenging and dry deposition. This facilitates efficient calculation of emission sensitivities for deposition quantities at individual sites, which opens new application fields such as the comprehensive analysis of measured deposition quantities, or of deposition recorded in snow samples or ice cores. This could also include inverse modelling of emission sources based on such measurements. We have tested the new scheme as implemented in the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART v10.2 by comparing results from forward and backward calculations. We also present an example application for black carbon concentrations recorded in Arctic snow.