Numerical simulation of the formation and transport of sulfate in convective clouds

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:6938524

Sarma, R A

A two-dimensional time-dependent cloud model is used to study the formation and transport of sulfate in convective clouds. The cloud model is modified to include equations governing the aqueous phase oxidation of sulfur dioxide by oxidants such as ozone and hydrogen peroxide, and some aerosol processes. Presence of atmospheric carbon dioxide and ammonia is also taken into account. The aerosol processes simulated include gas-to-particle conversion, the dynamic capture of aerosol by hydrometeors, production of aerosol by the evaporation of hydrometeors, and nucleation scavenging by cloud droplets. Simulations of a cumulus cloud are used to study the effects of some microphysical processes on the acidity of the hydrometeors. Results show that nucleation scavenging and aerosol production by the evaporation of cloud droplets are the most dominant of the aerosol processes simulated. The simulated convective cloud transported considerable quantities of SO/sub 2/ up as high as 9 km. The sulfate conversion rate showed variations in time which followed the dynamic behavior of the cloud. Simulating a source of SO/sub 2/ equivalent to a large coal-fired power plant had a significant impact on the acid deposition from the simulated cloud.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6938524
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOUDS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SIMULATION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES