An Evaluation of Diagnostic Atmospheric Dispersion Models for 'Cold Spill' Applications at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Abstract

Six diagnostic atmospheric dispersion modeling groups: NUATMOS/ CITPUFF, CALMET/CALPUFF PGEMS, WOCSS/MACHWIND/Adaptive plume, and LINCOM/ RIMPUFF/HEAVYPUFF are evaluated for use in specifying toxic hazard corridors for rocket propellent and oxidizer cold spills at Vandenberg AFB. Other models are also considered briefly. Physical assumptions, speed, cost, availability, ease of use, compatibility with existing risk assessment systems, validation, data requirements, and Vandenberg suitability are discussed. Underlying physical basis and modeling technique are emphasized. Dispersion models consist of separable windflow and dispersion sub-models. A MACHWIND/LINCOM windflow tandem with ADPIC, RIMPUFF, or CALPUFF diffusion may provide the most robust diagnostic modeling suite. A cost/benefit analysis of computer hardware and modeling accuracy is given.... Atmospheric dispersion models, Diagnostic mesoscale, Wind flow models, Puff diffusion models, Emergency response, Toxic hazard corridors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 30, 1992
Accession Number
ADA261188

Entities

People

  • R. F. Kamada

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Chemistry
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Environmental Protection
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Froude Number
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Three Dimensional
  • Turbulence
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers