US Environmental Protection Agency's model for complex-terrain applications

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7065321

Perry, S G; Finkelstein, P L

The Complex Terrain Dispersion (CTDMPLUS), a point-source, steady-state, dispersion model for complex terrain applications, is described and its performance summarized. The model is unique in the manner in which it simulates the flow and plume distortion near the terrain. Emphasis is given to windward side impacts. Simplicity is maintained by applying flow distortion corrections to flat-terrain, Gaussian and bi-Gaussian pollutant distributions. The performance of CTDMPLUS contrasts with that of a currently-recommended, complex-terrain, regulatory model. In stable or neutral conditions, CTDMPLUS shows relatively small average bias compared to field observations. The root-mean-square differences between CTDMPLUS and the observations are consistently lower and the percent of predictions within a factor of two are significantly higher than those of the regulatory model. In convective conditions, with comparisons unpaired in time or space, CTDMPLUS performs very well.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7065321
• Report Number(s): PB-90-221912/XAB; EPA--600/D-90/034
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
COMPLEX TERRAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLUMES
POLLUTION
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS