Observed and Simulated Turbulence Kinetic Energy and Dissipation Profiles in an Urban Valley During VTMX 2000

In this study, the extensive observations made during the Vertical Transport and MiXing (VTMX) field campaign are used to directly evaluate both the mean and turbulent quantities predicted by a mesoscale model over the Salt Lake Valley. Measurements of turbulence kinetic energy and dissipation from an array of sonic anemometers and vertical profiles of dissipation derived from a radar wind profiler are compared with the model predictions. Because there are still some uncertainties associated with these measurements, the findings presented in this paper are intended to be preliminary. A discussion of the implications of the differences between the observed and simulated quantities on the vertical mixing of pollutants in the valley boundary layer and how these differences will be used to the develop or modify turbulence parameterizations is included.