Proceedings of the first SRL model validation workshop. [Comparison and evaluation of atmospheric dispersion models using data for Kr-85]

Conference · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5579778

Buckner, M R ^[1]

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1. comp.

The Clean Air Act and its amendments have added importance to knowing the accuracy of mathematical models used to assess transport and diffusion of environmental pollutants. These models are the link between air quality standards and emissions. To test the accuracy of a number of these models, a Model Validation Workshop was held. The meteorological, source-term, and Kr-85 concentration data bases for emissions from the separations areas of the Savannah River Plant during 1975 through 1977 were used to compare calculations from various atmospheric dispersion models. The results of statistical evaluation of the models show a degradation in the ability to predict pollutant concentrations as the time span over which the calculations are made is reduced. Forecasts for annual time periods were reasonably accurate. Weighted-average squared correlation coefficients (R/sup 2/) were 0.74 for annual, 0.28 for monthly, 0.21 for weekly, and 0.18 for twice-daily predictions. Model performance varied within each of these four categories; however, the results indicate that the more complex, three-dimensional models provide only marginal increases in accuracy. The increased costs of running these codes is not warranted for long-term releases or for conditions of relatively simple terrain and meteorology. The overriding factor in the calculational accuracy is the accurate description of the wind field. Further improvements of the numerical accuracy of the complex models is not nearly as important as accurate calculations of the meteorological transport conditions.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5579778
• Report Number(s): DP-1597; CONF-8011132-; ON: DE82005217
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCURACY
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COLLOIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DATA
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORECASTING
FUNCTIONS
GAUSS FUNCTION
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KRYPTON 85
KRYPTON ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEETINGS
METEOROLOGY
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
PLUMES
POLLUTION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
SAMPLING
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SOLS
STATISTICAL MODELS
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VALIDATION
WIND
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES