Abstract
The project DECIPHER (Disentangling mechanisms controlling atmospheric transport and mixing processes over mountain areas at different space- and timescales) will investigate processes controlling exchange of momentum, energy and substances between the Earth surface and the atmosphere, and transport processes, across a variety of scales, including turbulent mixing and removal by precipitation scavenging. The overall goal of DECIPHER is to disentangle the effects of the various physical and chemical factors on atmospheric processes in mountain sites at different time and space scales. This will be obtained through field measurements and remote sensing approaches in two supersites, chosen with specific topographic and ambient features. a) Assessment of particle transport at high altitude. The main patterns of transport will be linked to thermally driven circulations developing in mountainous areas and reconstructed through the identification of sources and particles' paths to the receptors. Moreover, the role of different sources of air pollution in high altitude areas will be assessed. b) Understanding connections between orographic convection, precipitation and aerosol. Progress in our understanding of aerosol as a possible factor for enhancing nucleation for cloud formation and precipitation, following orographic convection, and the role of orographic precipitation in the removal of atmospheric aerosol. c) Scaling relationships and similarity functions. The combined analysis of data from measurements and from high-resolution numerical simulations will enable us to investigate connections among the physical variables involved in the processes. In particular, suitable scaling schemes and similarity functions will be explored and tested. d) Datasets The project will produce a rich benchmark of datasets, both from intensive field campaigns and from laboratory measurements, as well as from high-resolution model runs under various configurations. These will provide a basis for both the implementation of suitable parametrizations and for model verification. After a preliminary embargo, datasets will be published and shared to a broader scientific community.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Federico Porcù
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi"
Coordinator:
Università degli Studi di Trento(Italy)
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 56.329,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
28/09/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
