Environmental Impact Assessment Of An Industrial Facility By Means OfLagrangian Particles And Gaussian Models In Complex Terrain

Abstract

Accuracy on environmental impact assessment to analyze consequences of continuous and accidental releases is a key point especially when health effects are expected to be found. It assumes particularly relevance in complex areas where landlsea interface and topography give rise to complex circulation patterns. In this conditions conventional model systems like Gaussian often fail giving misleading results which in turn reflect to wrong mitigation and control strategies. Conversely modem advanced modeling systems, able to deal with inhomogeneous and non stationary phenomena, are expected to achieve better accuracy. The present work shows the application of a non conventional model system, composed by a diagnostic meteorological model (MINERVE) and a Lagrangian particles model (SPRAY), to assess, the environmental impact of a cement plant close to a populated urban area located in the center of Italy and characterized by complex topography and atmospheric circulation. The SPRAY results are then compared with results obtained with the EPA ISC3 Gaussian model. Significant differences are found between the two model results. The applied methodology has shown that an advanced modeling system, coupled with ground and vertical remote sensing meteo data, has to be used to conduct consequences analysis study with sufficient accuracy.