A proposed test of two hypotheses related to concentration fluctuations and residence times

Abstract

An experimental test is proposed of the hypotheses behind 2 models of Junge’s empirical result relating fluctuations in concentrations of atmospheric trace constituents to their residence times. The test, which probably could be performed using available data, involves calculating the coefficient of variation, F_e, for sampling periods of different duration, Δt_E, (or for portions of a single data record). For one theory, F_e would be independent of Δt_E; the second theory suggests that Fe will increase linearly with Δt_E, at least for small Δt_E. Moreover, the second theory suggests that the initial slope of the F_e versus Δy_E curve is related to the residence time T_r via lim (Δt_E → O){dF_c/d(Δt_E)} = [$\sqrt{12}$T_r]^-1