An urbanized version of MM5 (uMM5) was used at a 500 m horizontal grid-resolution to study effects on morning urban mixing depths and near roof-top stability from use of extensive green roofs in Mexico City, which is characterized by large Bowen ratios and high building storages. The model uses urban-morphology data, while building hydrothermal uMM5 input parameters were obtained from measurements over green and nearby conventional roofs. Evaluation of uMM5 predicted values against rooftop and planetary boundary layer (PBL) observations from extensive field measurement campaigns showed that the model performed reasonably well. Additional simulations were carried assuming that the roofs in entire urban neighborhoods were greened. Predicted mixing depths from these simulations, along with observed air pollution concentrations, were then used in a simple box model to evaluate potential green roof impacts on concentration. Results showed that green roofs produced an early morning (7–10 LST) cooling of up to 1.2 °C at rooftop levels, which reduced mixing depths during that period. Effects were greater on a day with weak synoptic forcing that on one 48 h later with strong synoptic forcing. The mixing-depth decreases produced increased box-model pollutant concentrations. While the green roofs did not elevate the observed concentrations of CO, SO2, and NO2 above World Health Organization (WHO) health standards, they did increase PM10, values (which were already above its standard) by as much as 8% from 7 to 9 LST, when local populations are normally exposed to peak concentrations. This study has applications in the analyses of building energy efficiency.
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December 2016
Research-Article
Influence of Green Roofs on Early Morning Mixing Layer Depths in Mexico City
Williams Vázquez Morales,
Williams Vázquez Morales
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: williams.vazquez@unicach.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: williams.vazquez@unicach.mx
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Arón Jazcilevich,
Arón Jazcilevich
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: jazcilev@unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: jazcilev@unam.mx
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Agustín García Reynoso,
Agustín García Reynoso
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: agustin@atmosfera.unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: agustin@atmosfera.unam.mx
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Ernesto Caetano,
Ernesto Caetano
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: caetano@unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: caetano@unam.mx
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Gabriela Gómez,
Gabriela Gómez
Instituto de Geografía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: gabyg@igg.unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: gabyg@igg.unam.mx
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Robert D. Bornstein
Robert D. Bornstein
Department of Meteorology and Climatology,
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0104
e-mail: pblmodel@hotmail.com
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0104
e-mail: pblmodel@hotmail.com
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Williams Vázquez Morales
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: williams.vazquez@unicach.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: williams.vazquez@unicach.mx
Arón Jazcilevich
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: jazcilev@unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: jazcilev@unam.mx
Agustín García Reynoso
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: agustin@atmosfera.unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: agustin@atmosfera.unam.mx
Ernesto Caetano
Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: caetano@unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: caetano@unam.mx
Gabriela Gómez
Instituto de Geografía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: gabyg@igg.unam.mx
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
CDMX, 04510, México
e-mail: gabyg@igg.unam.mx
Robert D. Bornstein
Department of Meteorology and Climatology,
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0104
e-mail: pblmodel@hotmail.com
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0104
e-mail: pblmodel@hotmail.com
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: INCLUDING WIND ENERGY AND BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION. Manuscript received January 12, 2016; final manuscript received September 15, 2016; published online October 13, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Jorge E. Gonzalez.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Dec 2016, 138(6): 061011 (10 pages)
Published Online: October 13, 2016
Article history
Received:
January 12, 2016
Revised:
September 15, 2016
Citation
Vázquez Morales, W., Jazcilevich, A., García Reynoso, A., Caetano, E., Gómez, G., and Bornstein, R. D. (October 13, 2016). "Influence of Green Roofs on Early Morning Mixing Layer Depths in Mexico City." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. December 2016; 138(6): 061011. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034807
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