Technical note: Interpretation of field observations of point-source methane plume using observation-driven large-eddy simulations

Abstract. This study demonstrates the ability of large-eddy simulation (LES) forced by a large-scale model to reproduce plume dispersion in an actual field campaign. Our aim is bring together observations taken under non-ideal conditions and LES show that this combination can help derive point-source strengths from sparse observations. We analyze results single-day case based on data collected near oil well during ROMEO campaign (ROmanian Methane Emissions Oil gas) took place October 2019. set up our using boundary derived meteorological reanalysis ERA5 released point source line with configuration field. The weather produced close agreement observations, although observed wind showed complex features due absence synoptic forcing. In order align direction we created second experiment manipulated fields better resemble Using these LESs, estimated agree emitted artificial tracer gas plume, indicating suitability infer conditions. To further harvest added value LES, higher-order statistical moments simulated were analyzed. Here, found good plumes previous laboratory experiments channel flows. length scale mixing layer height, mean speed convective velocity scale. It was demonstrated represents distance at which predominant behavior transfers meandering relative dispersion.