Rt. Bruintjes et al., THE DISPERSION OF TRACER PLUMES IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA - COMPARISONS BETWEEN OBSERVATIONS AND MODELING RESULTS, Journal of applied meteorology, 34(4), 1995, pp. 971-988
A three-dimensional, time-dependent, nested-grid model is used to calc
ulate the targeting of tracer or seeding material over complex terrain
in northern Arizona. Good agreement with measurements of SF6 tracer i
s reported in three case studies. Released in upwind valleys, the trac
er movement and dispersion are strongly influenced by both valley flow
and gravity waves excited by the mountains, as well as by changes in
the synoptic flow, which can change substantially even during a single
storm. The interaction between the airflow and the topography seem to
be the dominant factor determining the dispersion and transport of tr
acer material.