Air Pollutants Transport

Model
 Definition

Air pollution modeling is a numerical tool used to describe

the causal relationship between emissions, meteorology,
atmospheric concentrations, deposition, and other factors.
 Air pollution
Table 1. Comparison between measurements and modeling in air pollution control (Daly, A. and P. Zannetti., 2007)

Measurements Modeling

Can give a deterministic description of the

Quantitative information about ambient
air quality problem, including an analysis
concentrations and depositions
of factors and causes

Takes in consideration emission sources,

meteorological processes, and physical and
Describe air quality at specific locations chemical changes
and times

Does not give clear guidance on the

Works as guidance on the implementation
identification of the causes of the air
of mitigation measures.
quality problem
 Importance of Air Modeling

•Air pollution models are the only method that quantifies the
deterministic relationship between emissions and
concentrations/depositions, including the consequences of past
and future scenarios and the determination of the effectiveness
of abatement strategies.

•This makes air pollution models indispensable in regulatory,

research, and forensic applications (Daly, A. and P. Zannetti.,
2007).
THE CONCENTRATIONS OF SUBSTANCES IN THE
ATMOSPHERE ARE DETERMINED BY:

1) TRANSPORT
2) DIFFUSION
3) CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION
4) GROUND DEPOSITION.
 Gaussian Plume Model

• This model was applied for the

main purpose of calculating the
maximum ground level impact
of plumes and the distance of
maximum impact from the
source.

• The model was formulated by

determining experimentally the
horizontal and vertical spread of
the plume, measured by the
standard deviation of the
plume’s spatial concentration
distribution. Image 1. Two cross sections through a Gaussian plume (total mass under curve
conserved), (Daly, A. and P. Zannetti., 2007)
 Air Pollution Modeling at Urban and
Larger Scales
Shortly after 1970, scientists began to realize that air pollution was not only a local
phenomenon.

Two different modeling approaches were followed,

Lagrangian modeling and Eulerian modeling.

Lagrangian modeling is often used to cover longer periods of

time, up to years.
 The US-EPA today recommends the following two computer
packages for simulation of non-reactive chemicals (e.g., SO2)

• AERMOD:

AERMOD is a steady-state Gaussian plume model. It uses a single wind field to

transport emitted species. The wind field is derived from surface, upper-air, and onsite
meteorological observations. AERMOD also combines geophysical data such as
terrain elevations and land use with the meteorological data to derive boundary layer
parameters such as Monin-Obukhov length, mixing height, stability class, turbulence,
etc.

AERMOD is today replacing the ISC models for most regulatory applications in the
US.
CALPUFF is a non-steady state Lagrangian puff dispersion model. The
advantage of this model over a Gaussian-based model is that is can realistically
simulate the transport of substances in calm, stagnant conditions, complex
terrain, and coastal regions with sea/land breezes.

CALPUFF is particularly recommended fro long-range simulations (e.g., more

than 50 miles) and studies involving the assessment of the visual impact of
plumes.

With the development of the VISTAS Version 6 model2, CALPUFF can use sub-
hourly meteorological data and run with sub-hourly time steps. This version of
CALPUFF is appropriate for both long-range and short-range simulations.
THOR
THOR is an air pollution forecast system consisting of several air pollution models and a weather forecast model. This
system of models is used to produce operational 3-day air pollution forecasts, four times every day.
AirGIS
Human Exposure Modelling to Traffic Air Pollution. DEHM/UBM/AirGIS is aGIS-based human exposure modelling
system for traffic air pollution for application in air pollution epidemiological studies, human exposure studies, as well as
urban air quality assessment and management. The recently added "DEHM/UBM" in the beginng of the name indicates
the close coupling with the regional DEHM model and the Urban Background Model (UBM) providing background
concentration and meteorology as input.
OML
Atmospheric dispersion model. OML is an operational short-range model for regulatory applications.
 
OML-Highway
OML-Highway is a GIS-based model for assessment of air quality along motorways and other main roads in open terrain. 
OSPM
OSPM (Operational Street Pollution Model) is a street canyon model. It can be used to assess pollution resulting from
traffic in streets.
 
DEM 
"Danish Eulerian Model" is a large (computer intensive) air pollution model for studying various phenomena connected
with transport of air pollutants in the atmosphere. The space domain of the model comprises all of Europe. 
DEHM (in Danish)
DEHM – the Danish Eulerian Hemispheric Model - is a state-of-the-art dispersion model. It is used, i.a. within the Danish
national environmental monitoring programme NOVANA for assessment of nitrogen deposition, for assessments of air
pollution transport to the Arctic. It also forms a component within the THOR system for air pollution prognoses at a
European scale.
DREAM     
"Danish Rimpuff and Eulerian Accidental release Model" is a comprehensive, three-dimensional tracer model,
which has been developed for studying transport, dispersion, and deposition of air pollution caused by a single
but strong source, as e.g., the Chernobyl accident.
ACDEP
ACDEP is a variable scale Lagrangian model. The model has been used for computing nitrogen deposition to Danish
marine waters, and to assess the contribution to the deposition from various source areas and source types. The model
contains a detailed chemical mechanism with 37 species and 80 reactions.
Until 2004 results from ACDEP were used for assessments within the Danish national environmental programmes, but
ACDEP has now been replaced by DEHM in this context.
Deposition calculations  (in Danish)
DEHM is used for routine computations of deposition of nitrogen and sulphur in Denmark. Computations with a high
resolution are performed for selected areas in Denmark using OML-DEP - a variant of the OML model.
COPREM - a receptor model
COPREM (COnstrained Physical REceptor Model) is a receptor model that can be used for source apportionment. It unifies
qualities from factor analytic models and chemical mass balance models.
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