• Energy Research
• Closed Access close
• AT close
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology close

The specific problems of determining and simulating the surface energy balance (SEB) and the mixing height (MH) over urban areas are examined. The SEB and MH are critical components of algorithms and numerical models for the urban boundary layer, though the constituent parts of the SEB and the MH are not routinely measured by national weather services. Parameterisations are thus needed in applications. In this investigation, several recently developed algorithms and models for estimating the SEB and MH were applied to new datasets and assessed. Results are discussed in terms of the need for spatial resolution and the parameters needed to describe the urban atmosphere. Limitations of models are identified and recommendations for further development and observations are given. Having identified gaps in knowledge, key findings from new urban experiments and numerical modelling for the SEB and MH are given. The diurnal cycle for the SEB is significantly different from rural conditions—urban heat storage is needed in urban parameterisations. The urban MH is increased over the rural MH, as shown by several numerical schemes and careful sodar analyses. This work has been carried out within the COST-715 Action “Meteorology applied to urban air pollution problems (1998–2004). COST 715 reached a consensus proposing representatively sited measurements of meteorological parameters and turbulent fluxes above roof-tops, and recognised that such data are needed to improve numerical models of the urban surface processes.

The specific problems of determining and simulating the surface energy balance (SEB) and the mixing height (MH) over urban areas are examined. The SEB and MH are critical components of algorithms and numerical models for the urban boundary layer, though the constituent parts of the SEB and the MH are not routinely measured by national weather services. Parameterisations are thus needed in applications. In this investigation, several recently developed algorithms and models for estimating the SEB and MH were applied to new datasets and assessed. Results are discussed in terms of the need for spatial resolution and the parameters needed to describe the urban atmosphere. Limitations of models are identified and recommendations for further development and observations are given. Having identified gaps in knowledge, key findings from new urban experiments and numerical modelling for the SEB and MH are given. The diurnal cycle for the SEB is significantly different from rural conditions—urban heat storage is needed in urban parameterisations. The urban MH is increased over the rural MH, as shown by several numerical schemes and careful sodar analyses. This work has been carried out within the COST-715 Action “Meteorology applied to urban air pollution problems (1998–2004). COST 715 reached a consensus proposing representatively sited measurements of meteorological parameters and turbulent fluxes above roof-tops, and recognised that such data are needed to improve numerical models of the urban surface processes.

Abstract To understand how extratropical cyclones (ETCs) may change in a warmer climate, we conduct idealized baroclinic life cycle simulations using the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON)–NWP model with varied initial conditions. With respect to a present-day climate, two experiments are highlighted: a 4-K uniform warming and a more realistic late twenty-first-century warming pattern projected by a Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, version 6 (CMIP6), model. Different ETC deepening mechanisms, especially by diabatic processes, are quantified via the pressure tendency equation analysis, and the horizontal model resolution dependency is examined by contrasting coarse-grid (80 km) and convection-permitting (2.5 km) simulations. While our simulated ETCs are primarily baroclinically driven, dominated by the horizontal warm-air advection in the air column above the surface low, such an effect only strengthens by 10% in both warming experiments. However, the direct contribution of diabatic heating to surface pressure drop almost doubles, which likely feeds back positively to horizontal warm-air advection. Although their combined response to warming is pronounced, it is largely offset by the strengthened adiabatic cooling (17%) due to enhanced upward motions in warmer and moister ETCs, leading to a marginal ETC deepening at maturity (lowers by ∼1.5–4 hPa). Nevertheless, the near-surface impacts strongly increase, particularly the local extreme precipitation (up to 56%). The convection-permitting and the coarse-grid simulations show qualitatively consistent ETC responses to global warming. We suggest that the systematically weaker ETCs (with higher central pressure) in 2.5-km compared to 80-km simulations might be primarily caused by model uncertainty in representing the convective-diabatic heating over the warm front near the cyclone core.

Abstract To understand how extratropical cyclones (ETCs) may change in a warmer climate, we conduct idealized baroclinic life cycle simulations using the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON)–NWP model with varied initial conditions. With respect to a present-day climate, two experiments are highlighted: a 4-K uniform warming and a more realistic late twenty-first-century warming pattern projected by a Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, version 6 (CMIP6), model. Different ETC deepening mechanisms, especially by diabatic processes, are quantified via the pressure tendency equation analysis, and the horizontal model resolution dependency is examined by contrasting coarse-grid (80 km) and convection-permitting (2.5 km) simulations. While our simulated ETCs are primarily baroclinically driven, dominated by the horizontal warm-air advection in the air column above the surface low, such an effect only strengthens by 10% in both warming experiments. However, the direct contribution of diabatic heating to surface pressure drop almost doubles, which likely feeds back positively to horizontal warm-air advection. Although their combined response to warming is pronounced, it is largely offset by the strengthened adiabatic cooling (17%) due to enhanced upward motions in warmer and moister ETCs, leading to a marginal ETC deepening at maturity (lowers by ∼1.5–4 hPa). Nevertheless, the near-surface impacts strongly increase, particularly the local extreme precipitation (up to 56%). The convection-permitting and the coarse-grid simulations show qualitatively consistent ETC responses to global warming. We suggest that the systematically weaker ETCs (with higher central pressure) in 2.5-km compared to 80-km simulations might be primarily caused by model uncertainty in representing the convective-diabatic heating over the warm front near the cyclone core.

Abstract Decarbonising the heating sector is crucial for reducing CO2 emissions. This is in particular true for Central European cities such as Vienna, where 28% of the total CO2 emissions are caused by the energy supply for buildings. One promising option for environmental friendly heat supply is the use of shallow geothermal energy. To determine whether shallow geothermal systems are a feasible option to meet the urban heating demand, the Python tool GeoEnPy is developed and applied to a case study in Vienna. It allows the evaluation of the anthropogenic heat input into the subsurface, the theoretical sustainable potential, the technical geothermal potential, and the heat supply rate. The overall heat flow in Vienna is 17.6 PJ/a, which represents 38% of the current heating demand or indeed 99% once all buildings are thermally refurbished. The technical geothermal potential can satisfy the current heating demand for 63% (BHE system) or rather 8% (GWHP system) of the city area. GeoEnPy reveals that BHE systems are most feasible in the eastern and southern districts of Vienna. Our findings can guide integration of shallow geothermal use in spatial energy management focused on key locations to supply buildings with decentralised and sustainable heat from the subsurface.

Abstract Decarbonising the heating sector is crucial for reducing CO2 emissions. This is in particular true for Central European cities such as Vienna, where 28% of the total CO2 emissions are caused by the energy supply for buildings. One promising option for environmental friendly heat supply is the use of shallow geothermal energy. To determine whether shallow geothermal systems are a feasible option to meet the urban heating demand, the Python tool GeoEnPy is developed and applied to a case study in Vienna. It allows the evaluation of the anthropogenic heat input into the subsurface, the theoretical sustainable potential, the technical geothermal potential, and the heat supply rate. The overall heat flow in Vienna is 17.6 PJ/a, which represents 38% of the current heating demand or indeed 99% once all buildings are thermally refurbished. The technical geothermal potential can satisfy the current heating demand for 63% (BHE system) or rather 8% (GWHP system) of the city area. GeoEnPy reveals that BHE systems are most feasible in the eastern and southern districts of Vienna. Our findings can guide integration of shallow geothermal use in spatial energy management focused on key locations to supply buildings with decentralised and sustainable heat from the subsurface.

Abstract Producer gas from biomass gasification contains mainly hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and some other low molecular hydrocarbons like propylene. This paper reports mathematical simulation and experimental study of steam reforming of methane mixture with propylene in a packed bed reactor filled with nickel based catalysts. Due to the high heat input through the reformer tube wall and the endothermic reforming reactions, a two-dimensional pseudo-heterogeneous model that takes into account the diffusion reaction phenomena in gas phase as well as inside the catalyst particles has been used to represent temperature distribution and species concentration within the reactor. Steam reforming of propylene is faster and more selective than methane and it is shown that addition of propylene to the methane steam mixture reduces the conversion of methane. The obtained results play a key role in optimization and design of a commercial reactor.