Urban Dispersion Modelling Capabilities Related to the UDINEE Intensive Operating Period 4

Piotr Kopka,Aleksej Kaszko,Slawomir Potempski,Michal Korycki

doi:10.1007/s10546-018-0399-6

Piotr Kopka, Aleksej Kaszko + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-018-0399-6

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Abstract

The Quick Urban and Industrial Complex (QUIC) atmospheric transport and dispersion modelling system, developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, is evaluated using measurement data from the Joint Urban 2003 gas-tracer measurements conducted in Oklahoma City, USA. This activity has been coordinated within the Urban Dispersion International Evaluation Exercise (UDINEE) project, led by the European Commission–Joint Research Centre. Four different set-ups for the QUIC program are evaluated using different types of wind-speed data, such as local onsite measurements and flow fields produced by the Weather Research and Forecasting mesoscale model. The simulation results are evaluated against measured data for instantaneous puff releases from intensive operation period 4 of the Joint Urban 2003 field experiment. The selection of performance measures is based on the assumptions made for the UDINEE project. The differences in the results of simulations for various set-ups are described.

Highlights

The release of chemical or radiological substances in an urban environment can lead to significant consequences, and may have huge social, economic and health impacts
To validate the models presented by different teams, the organizers provided data from the Joint Urban 2003 (JU2003) field experiment held in Oklahoma City, USA (Clawson et al 2005)
The results of the different Quick Urban and Industrial Complex (QUIC)-model configurations are presented and compared for the instantaneous puff-release experiments during IOP 4 performed during the Joint Urban 2003 Tracer Field Experiments held in Oklahoma City from June through July 2003. Samplers used in this field experiment were deployed in and around the urban core of Oklahoma City, and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Air Resources Laboratory Field Research Division

Summary

Introduction

The release of chemical or radiological substances in an urban environment can lead to significant consequences, and may have huge social, economic and health impacts. Due to the complexity of urban areas, such a task cannot be realized by applying relatively simple dispersion models. The presented study and analysis were realized within the Urban Dispersion International Evaluation Exercise (UDINEE) project, led by the Joint Research Centre (JRC European Commission) (Hernández-Ceballos et al 2017). The main goal of the project is to evaluate various urban atmospheric dispersion models for use in emergency preparedness and response. To validate the models presented by different teams, the organizers provided data from the Joint Urban 2003 (JU2003) field experiment held in Oklahoma City, USA (Clawson et al 2005). During the JU2003 experiment, personnel from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory Field Research Division conducted multiple instantaneous puff releases of sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) in the downtown area of Oklahoma City. Each release occurred at a different time of the day and the weather conditions varied throughout the experiment

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