660
Views
42
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Technical Paper

Directional Biases in Back Trajectories Caused by Model and Input Data

, &
Pages 1649-1662 | Published online: 02 Mar 2012
 

Abstract

Back trajectory analyses are often used for source attribution estimates in visibility and other air quality studies. Several models and gridded meteorological datasets are readily available for generation of trajectories. The Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational (BRAVO) tracer study of July to October 1999 provided an opportunity to evaluate trajectory methods and input data against tracer concentrations, particulate data, and other source attribution techniques. Results showed evidence of systematic biases between the results of different back trajectory model and meteorological input data combinations at Big Bend National Park during the BRAVO. Most of the differences were because of the choice of meteorological data used as input to the trajectory models. Different back trajectories also resulted from the choice of trajectory model, primarily because of the different mechanisms used for vertical placement of the trajectories. No single model or single meteorological data set was found to be superior to the others, although rawinsonde data alone are too sparse in this region to be used as the only input data, and some combinations of model and input data could not be used to reproduce known attributions of tracers and simulated sulfate.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.