1. Introduction to Hands-on Activities
Air Pollution Dispersion Models:
Applications with the AERMOD Modeling System
Introduction to Hands-on Activities
Course #423
Day 1 Morning

2. Day 1 Morning: Introduction to Hands-on

3. Overview Introduces: the purpose of the hands-on activities
the basic directory structure for the storage of the files needed to complete the hands-on activities
the modeling scenario that will be used throughout this course
This course is designed to cover the basic functionality of each of the processors/programs typically used to complete a dispersion modeling application with AERMOD (e.g., AERSURFACE, AERMINUTE, AERMET, etc.) and provide some hands-on experience with each of the programs. In general, each class session focuses on a particular processor and will be supplemented with a hands-on activity using the processor discussed.
Subsequent activities will use output from previous activities, so it will be important to complete each activity. However, if problems arise and an activity cannot be completed, a complete set of output files is provided for each activity that can used for comparison and to complete subsequent activities if needed.
In the interest of time, participants will not be required to create the individual program control files from a blank sheet of paper, as this can be a resource intensive process. Partially complete control files will be supplied with selected keyword arguments omitted for the user to complete as part of the hands-on activity.
Complete control files are provided in the event a student encounters a problem or there is not sufficient time to complete a hands-on activity.

4. (listed in the order to be completed)
Folder Structure
APTI423\Hands-on\
AERSURFACE\
AERMINUTE\
AERMET\
AERMAP\
BPIPPRM\
AERMOD\
AERSCREEN\
(listed in the order to be completed)
The files needed to complete the hands-on activities are organized by the processor/program on which the activity is focused, as shown on this slide. They are listed on this slide in the order they will be completed during the course, which may not be the order they appear on your local drive.
The directory structure for each hands-on activity varies beyond the level shown and will be discussed at the beginning of the activity.

5. Input/Output Files
A complete set of input and output files are provided for all of the hands-on activities, including
Control files
Input data
Output, log, and debug files (as applicable)
As previously stated, all the necessary files are available to you, including the output files that can be used for reference as you complete each hands-on activity.

6. Martins Creek
One of the independent databases used in the evaluation of AERMOD as it was being developed
Location: Pennsylvania – New Jersey border, about 95 km north of Philadelphia, PA and 30 km northeast of Allentown, PA
There were two types of databases in the initial development of AERMOD: developmental and independent.
Developmental: Once formulated, the model was tested against a variety of field measurements (developmental evaluation) in order to identify areas needing improvement. The developmental evaluation provided a basis for selecting formulation options. Five databases were used for this step.
Independent: Independent performance evaluations (EPA, 2003) were designed to assess how well AERMOD’s concentration estimates compare against a variety of databases and to assess the adequacy of the model for use in regulatory decision making, i.e., how well does the model predict concentrations at the high end of the concentration distribution. An additional five databases were used for this step as well.
The basis for much of the hands-on activity is the Martins Creek evaluation. It is one of the independent databases. The facility, a steam electrical generation station, is located on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River approximately 30 km northeast of Allentown, PA and 95 km north of Philadelphia, PA. Meteorological data were collected at multiple locations within the study area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, though only two sites were used for the model evaluation, an instrumented tower and sodar. Seven SO2 monitors were scattered about on the mountain ridge line across the river (Scott’s Mountain).

7. Martins Creek Cont’d The facility – a steam electric station
In the Delaware River valley with elevated terrain on both sides of the valley; rural
Scott’s Mountain to the southeast rises about m above the valley, km southeast of the facility
Ridge west and north rises about m above the valley
The field study area is in the Delaware River valley, straddling both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The town of Belvidere, NJ is to the north-northeast (the populated area toward the upper right corner of the map).
The area is characterized as complex terrain, meaning that there exist terrain in the study area with elevations that are higher than the stack top (release height). Scott’s Mountain, to the southeast of the facility ( km), rises about meters above the valley while a ridge approximately 15 km to the west and north rises meters above the valley.

8. Martins Creek – cont’d
Field study conducted 1992/93 – one year monitored SO2 emissions at seven locations on Scott’s Mtn. with concurrent collection of meteorological data
Sources: Martins Creek sources plus several distant sources that contribute to SO2 impacts
Meteorology
In the valley
10-meter tower about 2.5 km west of station
Wind speed and direction, temperature, and σA
Sodar
Wind speed and direction from 90m – 420m
For hands-on activities, the year is modified to look like 2011/2012 data to allow use of data (hourly and 1-minute ASOS data) that were not available in the early 1990’s
Although eight major sources were modeled in the AERMOD evaluation (3 at Martins Creek and 5 others), only one at Martins Creek and two distant sources are used in the hands-on activities.
The SO2 monitors were located across the river from the Martins Creek steam plant on Scott’s Mtn, meters above the stack tops.
Site-specific meteorological data were collected from May 1, 1992 – May 19, (9216 hours). Since there were no ASOS stations in operation at that time, the data year has been edited on each record as though the data were collected from May – May This will allow us to utilize more recent data products that were not available in the early 1990’s. The hands-on activities that utilize the Martins Creek site- specific data will be that portion of data represented as May 1, 2011 through April 30, (8784 hours, 1 leap year).

9. Martins Creek – cont’d
This slide displays a wind rose for the data collected from May 1, 1992 – May 19, 1993.
Compare this plot to the topographic map a few slides back. The bimodal distribution seen here aligns with the orientation of the terrain (i.e., the valley between the ridge to the west and north and Scott’s Mountain to the southeast).
The average wind speed is about 2.3 meters/second with 117 calm hours and 7 missing or incomplete hours for a data capture over 99.9%.

10. Martins Creek – cont’d Two AERMOD modeling scenarios
1 year of meteorological data (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012)
Martin’s Creek site-specific
NWS hourly surface observations, ISHD format (KABE)
Hourly wind data, 1-minute ASOS processed with AERMINUTE (KABE)
NWS upper air soundings, FSL format (KALB)
5 years of meteorological data (2008 – 2012)
The data and control files needed to perform two similar but different modeling scenarios are provided. Thus, some of the hands-on activities will require participants to process data separately to prepare input files for each of the two scenarios.
The first scenario, as outlined on the slide, will span a single year, May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012, and utilize the Martins Creek site-specific data that has been altered to correspond with the same time frame. This scenario will also use NWS hourly surface observations in the ISHD format and 1-minute ASOS wind data, collected at the Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, PA, call letters KABE. The upper air data used is from Albany International Airport in Albany, NY, call letters KALB.
The second scenario will use 5-years of NWS meteorological data without the use of the Martins Creek site-specific data. The data years will span January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2012.
The presentations and discussions that accompany the hands-on activities will focus primarily on the steps needed to complete the first modeling scenario. When applicable, the participants will be prompted to independently complete any additional preprocessing required to perform the second modeling scenario.