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What Is Air Dispersion Modeling?

Air is everywhere, and so is everything it contains. When looking at how the atmosphere spreads across the planet, air dispersion modelling attempts to simulate how weather patterns and other atmospheric conditions effect where, when and how far certain particles within the air will spread. The modelling is particularly important during the release of potentially harmful materials, such as pollutants or radiation.

Modelling
- Air dispersion modelling is a mathematical simulation of how particles in the atmosphere, such as pollutants from traffic or industrial plants, spread through the ambient atmosphere. These simulations are performed by computer programs using equations and algorithms to quickly predict how these materials will spread. Estimates can then be made of how far they will reach and how they may effect the organic life in the area.
Pollutants
- Atmospheric dispersion modelling is extremely useful in looking at air quality and density of potentially dangerous materials carried within the atmosphere. Some of these can include car exhaust and emissions, industrial waste, toxic gas releases, radiation and any other airborne substance that may reach up into the atmosphere. Atmospheric dispersion modelling generally focuses primarily on the distribution of such pollutants, predicting not only how far and how present the materials will be but also giving clues to how to keep them below harmful level.
Importance
- As seen in large cities such as Los Angeles and Beijing, air quality is often a major issue. Over pollution in the air can lead to severe health problems for people who already have lung conditions such as asthma and in young children and infants. Also, during times of crisis, such as the nuclear emergency in Japan during 2011, air dispersion modelling is used to determine the safe distance for evacuation, so people won't be affected by highly toxic gases. Air dispersion modelling was used in determining how far radiation from those plants would reach into the Pacific and whether or not they would affect people living in Hawaii or Los Angeles.
Simulated Conditions
- While dispersion models vary upon the exact mathematics used in their development, all models require certain types of data in order to make accurate predictions. These data include meteorological conditions, such as wind velocity, atmospheric turbulence, air temperature, solar radiation and cloud cover. Models in specific locations also look at the elevation from sea-level of the source of the pollutant and terrain and locations surrounding it.

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