Atmospheric Diffusion of Droplet Clouds
Abstract
This note provides a preliminary analysis of contamination footprints associated with release of liquid chemical warfare agents in the atmosphere. When defense systems analysts require contamination footprints for situations that depart radically from the limited set of available field data, they use computer models presumably based on a sound understanding of the underlying physics to predict contamination zones and magnitudes. The author has found, however, that the dispersal and diffusion models most used in air base and tactical ballistic missile defense studies neglect a fundamental element in describing the processes of atmospheric diffusion. This omission translates into a potentially severe underestimate of toxic cloud exposure. It is shown how these models can be modified to include the important effect of the droplets' fall velocity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA146335
Entities
People
- J. Aroesty
Organizations
- RAND Corporation