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Understanding The USEPA's AERMOD Modeling System For Environmental Managers

this document describes the introduction to AEROMOD a software developed by EPA to predict the atmospheric dispersion

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Yunardi Yusuf
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
62 views

Understanding The USEPA's AERMOD Modeling System For Environmental Managers

this document describes the introduction to AEROMOD a software developed by EPA to predict the atmospheric dispersion

Uploaded by

Yunardi Yusuf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 52

Understanding the USEPAs

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?

Model is a way of expressing the


relationship between the different variables
of a system in mathematical terms
AIR QUALITY MODELING

An attempt to predict or simulate, by physical or numerical means, the


ambient concentrations of contaminants found within the atmosphere
of a region of interest.

An Air Quality Model can be as simple as an algebraic equation or


could involve solutions of coupled partial differential equations using
super computers.
Examples of Air Modeling Problems

Release of contaminants due to agriculture,


mining, industrial, and refining activities.

Evolution of toxic gases during accidents.


Input Data Requirements of a Dispersion Model

Source Data
Receptor Data
Site Data
Meteorological Data
Dispersion Data
OUTPUT OF A BASIC DISPERSION MODEL

The location and amount of maximum ground


level concentration from the source(s) for various
conditions of wind speed and atmospheric stability.

The amount of ground level concentration at


varying distances from the sources.

The amount of ground level concentration at


arbitrary locations on a grid.
EXAMPLES OF ATMOSPHRIC DISPERSION
MODELS

USEPA's Industrial Source Complex (ISC3)

COMPLEX

SCREEN

Urban Airshed Model

AERMOD
AERMOD
(Joint effort by AMS/EPA)

Steady state plume model

Uses PBL technology developed during 80s

Estimates the impacts from a variety of industrial sources

Improvement over the ISC model


AERMOD MODELING SYSTEM

Pre-processors AERMET and AERMAP

AERMET deals with the meteorological data

AERMAP generates receptor grids and


characterizes the terrain features.

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

Receptor and Terrain data

Meteorological data

Downwash related information


Data Flow in the AERMOD
Features of AERMOD

Steady state plume model

Applied to source releases that are assumed to be steady over


individual modeling periods

Computation of pollutant impacts in both the flat and complex


terrain

Terrain height with respect to stack height need not be specified


since the receptors at all elevations are handled with the same
general methodology
Review of Terms Used in
t
AERMOD So
eat l Lapse Rate ar
t H Se Ra
t en ns di
at
La O Friction Velocity Te
ib
le io
n
D m H
L BE io
pe ea
t
A a t ra
tu
n R re
w e Sc
Bo al
e
Monin-Obukhov Length
Atmospheric Stability Stefan-Boltzmann Law

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.

Surface layer and Ekman layer = PBL


Solar Radiation
Sun emits enormous amount of energy to
space.
Solar radiation that reaches earths surface
is known as insolation (for incoming solar
radiation).
Sensible Heat
This is the amount of heat transferred via
conduction and convection from the surface
of Earth into troposphere.
The sensible heating can be monitored, or
sensed, as the temperature changes.
Latent Heat
The amount of heat that is involved in phase
change is known as latent heat.
Evaporation of water from oceans,------
ALBEDO
Albedo = Reflected radiation/Incident
radiation
Bowen Ratio
The ratio of sensible heating to latent heating

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

is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant


= 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2/oK-4
Lapse Rate
The lapse rate is the rate of change of
temperature with height.

= -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

AERMOD, designed by the AERMIC committee to implement state-

of-the-art modeling concepts into the EPA's local-scale air quality

models

AERMOD, developed as a new platform for regulatory steady-state

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

Use of an input data file called a Run Stream File

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

Each run stream image starts with


i. A pathway ID
ii. An 8 character keyword
iii. A parameter list

A pathway ID describes the type of data being input

If the input data is Control data, then the ID is CO.

Source data is indicated by SO.


AERMOD Run Stream Image Description

The 8- character keyword describes the nature of the input.

For example, MODELOPT says that the model options of


the Dispersion option are being entered.

The parameters falling under that particular pathway and


8-character keyword follow the 8-character keyword.

A simple example of how a run stream image starts is


shown in the next slide.
AERMOD Run Stream Image Description

Example: CO MODELOPT DEFAULT CONC

( Parameters )
( 8 character Keyword )
( 2 character Pathway ID )
Advantages of Keyword Approach

Descriptive of options and inputs being used

Considerable flexibility in structuring the input files to improve their


readability

Gives easy notation of the input - output parameters and data used.
Dispersion Input Data Options

The regulatory modeling options will be the default mode of


operation for the model.

Use of stack-tip downwash and a routine for processing averages


when calm winds or missing meteorological data occurs.

Includes the use of non-default options

Calculates concentration values (dry and wet depositions review copy


is available on the USEPA website).

Short term averages in a single run and also the overall period
averages
Source Input Data Options

Capable of handling multiple sources ( point, area, volume )

Line source also (as elongated area source or as string of volume


sources)

Several source groups may be specified in a single run with combined


source contributions for each group.
Source Input Data Options (Contd.)

Capable of modeling the effects of aerodynamic downwash due to


nearby buildings on point source

Emission rate can be assumed as constant or varied by month, hour,


other options. The variable emission rate factors can be specified for a
single source or group of sources.

Separate file of hourly emission rates for some or all sources.


Receptor Input Data Options

Designed to handle all types of terrain, from flat to complex

Requires information about the surrounding terrain for the modeling of


receptors in elevated or complex terrain

Includes a height scale and base elevation for each receptor in the run
stream file

Terrain preprocessor (AERMAP) helps to obtain the base elevation


and height scale for a receptor
Receptor Input Data Options

Considerable flexibility in the specification of receptor locations

Capability to specify multiple receptor networks in a single run

Can mix Cartesian grid receptor networks and polar grid receptor
networks in the same run
Receptor Input Data Options

Flexibility in specifying the location of the origin for polar receptors

Flexibility in input of elevated receptor heights to model the effects of


terrain above stack base or ground level

No distinction between the elevated terrain below and above the


release height
Terrain & Receptor Data from AERMAP

Uses gridded terrain data to calculate a representative terrain-influence


height (hc ), also referred to as the terrain height scale

Gridded data needed are selected from DEM data

Creates receptor grids

Automatically assigns an elevation to each specified receptor

Passes the receptors location (xr , yr), its height above mean sea level
(zr ), and the receptor specific terrain height scale (h c ) to AERMOD

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