Understanding The USEPA's AERMOD Modeling System For Environmental Managers
Understanding The USEPA's AERMOD Modeling System For Environmental Managers
Introduction
Ashok Kumar
University of Toledo
[email protected]
SOLUTION OF
ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION
PROBLEMS
Theoretical Approach
Analytical Solution
Numerical Solution
Experimental Approach
Field Studies
Laboratory Studies
What is a model?
Source Data
Receptor Data
Site Data
Meteorological Data
Dispersion Data
OUTPUT OF A BASIC DISPERSION MODEL
COMPLEX
SCREEN
AERMOD
AERMOD
(Joint effort by AMS/EPA)
Dispersion models
CHARACTERISTICS OF AERMOD
Rural and urban areas
Simple as well as complex terrain
Accounts for different source types
- Surface and elevated sources
- Multiple sources point, area and volume sources
Concentration distribution in stable boundary layer (SBL): Gaussian in
both vertical and horizontal directions
Concentration distribution in convective boundary layer (CBL):
horizontal distribution is assumed Gaussian but vertical distribution is
described with bi-Gaussian function
Plume penetrates through the elevated boundary layer and re-enters into
the boundary layer.
This model accounts for the vertical inhomogeneity of the planetary
boundary layer (PBL)
INPUT DATA REQUIREMENTS
Source data
Dispersion data
Meteorological data
y L ay
Pote nd ar
ntial
Temp ry Bou
eta
eratu
re Plan
Planetary Boundary Layer
The PBL is a region immediately above the
Earth surface that is affected by horizontal
pressure gradients, viscosity, and Coriolis
forces.
Typical values:
North America 0.74
Australia 2.18
Indian Ocean 0.09
Note: Lower Bowen Ratio for moist surfaces.
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
The total energy radiated by an object is
proportional to the fourth power of its
absolute temperature.
E = T4
= -T/z
Potential Temperature
The temperature air would have if it was
compressed, or expanded, adiabatically
from a given state (P, T) to a pressure of
1000mb is defined as potential
temperature .
R/C p
1000
T T
P
Friction Velocity
u* = (Shear stress/Density)0.5
0.5
u
Atmospheric Stability
Atmospheric stability is defined as the
ability of the atmosphere to enhance or to
resist atmospheric motions.
Monin-Obukhov Length
A constant, characteristic length scale. It is
negative in unstable conditions (upward
heat flux), positive for stable conditions,
and approach infinity as the actual lapse
rate for ambient air reaches the dry
adiabatic lapse rate.
Temperature Scale
H
c p u
AERMOD - AERMIC DISPERSION MODEL
models
plume modeling
Data Flow In AERMOD Modeling System
AERMOD - Input File Format Description
Wide range of options available for modeling air quality impacts of pollution
sources
Run stream file is divided into five functional sets, each called a Run Stream
Image.
Each run stream image describes the dispersion data, source data,
receptor data, meteorological data and output data respectively .
AERMOD Run Stream Image Description
( Parameters )
( 8 character Keyword )
( 2 character Pathway ID )
Advantages of Keyword Approach
Gives easy notation of the input - output parameters and data used.
Dispersion Input Data Options
Short term averages in a single run and also the overall period
averages
Source Input Data Options
Includes a height scale and base elevation for each receptor in the run
stream file
Can mix Cartesian grid receptor networks and polar grid receptor
networks in the same run
Receptor Input Data Options
Passes the receptors location (xr , yr), its height above mean sea level
(zr ), and the receptor specific terrain height scale (h c ) to AERMOD