Lakes Environmental e-Newsletter

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Upcoming Courses

Date	Course	Location	Registration
Feb 25-26, 2013 Feb 27- Mar 1, 2013	AERMOD CALPUFF	Dallas, TX	Register Now
Apr 8-9, 2013	AERMOD	Toronto, ON	A Few Spots Left Register Now
Apr 29-30, 2013 May 1-3, 2013	AERMOD CALPUFF	Las Vegas, NV	Register Now
May 13-14, 2013 May 15-16, 2013	AERMOD CALPUFF	Calgary, AB	Register Now

For more information on the above courses, including registration information, location, and course outlines, please visit our web site: https://www.weblakes.com/courses.html.

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Modeling Tip

Outdated Meteorological Data in AERMOD

Lakes Environmental recently released Version 8.1 of AERMOD View™ and AERMET View™ . The new version incorporates new AERMOD and AERMET executables released by the U.S. EPA at the end of 2012. These executables, dated 12345, contain a number of new features and updates to model algorithms.

One major change implemented by the U.S. EPA to AERMOD involves backwards compatibility for meteorological data. From the Model Change Bulletin #8:

AERMOD will no longer run with met data based on version 06341 of AERMET. AERMOD will run using met data based on version 11059. However, a warning message will be generated, and users are strongly encouraged to update their meteorological data to version 12345 of AERMET due to the scope of changes included in that update.

Since AERMOD View Version 8.1 defaults to the 12345 executable, modelers who have projects which use old meteorological data may see the following fatal error message:

ME E395 135 MEOPEN: Met. Data Error; Incompatible Version of AERMET: 06341

Check Met Data Version

To help modelers avoid this error, an additional data field has been added to AERMOD View - Meteorology Pathway window. When you open a Surface Met Data file, the Version number is printed for your reference.

Users with old met data have two options:

1. Change the AERMOD executable to one that will accept old met data, or
2. Create or acquire met data that was processed with the new AERMET executable.

Change AERMOD Model Executables

We previously covered how to change the version of the AERMOD executable (https://www.weblakes.com/Newsletter/2011/Dec2011.html). These steps are very straightforward:

1. Open the File menu and select Preferences. Many different program settings can be set here.
2. The various models available in AERMOD View are listed under the EPA Models/Limits section. Select AERMOD.
3. As previously mentioned, the default executable in AERMOD View™ (AERMOD.EXE) corresponds to the most recent U.S. EPA executable (currently 12345). Open the drop-down list to see and select different executables including previous U.S. EPA AERMOD releases.
   


4. Double-click the desired executable and click OK.
5. Alternatively, users can also select their own recompiled version of AERMOD by selecting the User-Specified radio button. Use the Browse button to search your computer for the desired executable. This could be a much older version of the executable (e.g., 04300, 07026), beta version released by EPA, or a custom compilation.

Acquire New AERMOD-Ready Met Data

If you cannot run an old AERMOD executable, then the met data files must be run through the new AERMET executable. AERMET View™ Version 8.1 includes the new AERMET 12345 executable. If you created the meteorological data files yourself, you can rerun the AERMET project using the new executable to create new data files which AERMOD 12345 will read successfully. If you did not process the data files yourself, you’ll need to contact the data source and inquire about reprocessing.

Modelers in the United States can purchase AERMOD-ready meteorological data from Lakes Environmental. Orders include:

Hourly surface data from the National Climatic Data Center’s TD-3505 data archive Upper air data from NOAA’s Forecast System Laboratory radiosonde database 1-minute ASOS data processing (where applicable) Land use processing with AERSURFACE Processing with the latest EPA executables

Complete our convenient online data request form at https://www.weblakes.com/services/met_data.html to get your quote today!

Note:

We are currently accepting submissions for the Monthly Modeling Tip section that appears in our newsletters. If you have a modeling tip that may benefit our readers, please send it to us at support@webLakes.com. Your name and the name of your organization will appear below the tip providing you with an opportunity for increased exposure.

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Articles

EPA Proposes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards

WASHINGTON - January 31, 2013 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).

The proposal announced today will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized. EPA continues to support the use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector through the RFS2 program, which encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security, and decreases greenhouse gas pollution.

Read Full Article Here

EPA Finalizes Vapor Intrusion Regulations

January 23, 2013 - The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") recently finalized the first of several pending guidance documents and regulations governing the evaluation and mitigation of vapor intrusion at contaminated sites, a growing area of focus that has thus far been regulated primarily on the state level. EPA’s new guidance requires regional EPA offices to address vapor intrusion risks during the five-year reviews for most completed Superfund cleanups.

Read Full Article Here

Overpopulation Is Huge Concern - Alexandra Paul's TEDX Talk

January 20, 2013 - Every major global issue requires spearheading by influential individuals. Global warming had Al Gore and the famine in Ethiopia in the 80s had the fundraising supergroup Band Aid. At long last, the issue of overpopulation is being raised by someone with good exposure in the media. Alexandra Paul, host of the PBS documentary JAMPACKED and star of over 75 films and televisions shows, including the series Baywatch, gave a speech on overpopulation to the TEDX event in Topanga, California (click here for video link).

Read Full Article Here

EPA Finalizes Revisions to Clean Air Standards for Stationary Engines

Washington - January 15, 2013 - Today, in compliance with settlement agreements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized revisions to standards to reduce air pollution from stationary engines that generate electricity and power equipment at industrial, agricultural, oil and gas production, power generation and other facilities.

The final revised rule announced today will reduce the capital and annual costs of the original 2010 rules by $287 million and $139 million, respectively, while reducing harmful pollutants, including 2,800 tons per year (tpy) of hazardous air pollutants; 36,000 tpy of carbon monoxide; 2,800 tpy of particulate matter; 9,600 tpy of nitrogen oxides, and 36,000 tpy of volatile organic compounds.

Read Full Article Here

Climate Change Evident Across Europe, Confirming Urgent Need for Adaptation

November 21, 2012 - Climate change is affecting all regions in Europe, causing a wide range of impacts on society and the environment. Further impacts are expected in the future, potentially causing high damage costs, according to the latest assessment published by the European Environment Agency today.

The report, ‘Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012’ finds that higher average temperatures have been observed across Europe as well as decreasing precipitation in southern regions and increasing precipitation in northern Europe. The Greenland ice sheet, Arctic sea ice and many glaciers across Europe are melting, snow cover has decreased and most permafrost soils have warmed.

Read Full Article Here

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Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows

Date	Conference	Location
Mar 4-8, 2013	International Conference on Environmental Pollution, Restoration and Management More Info	Hanoi, Vietnam
Mar 13-14, 2013	The Air Quality and Emissions Show (AQE 2013) More Info	Telford, England, UK
Mar 17-18, 2013	International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (ICEST) More Info	Macau, China
Mar 19-21, 2013	AMERICANA 2013 More Info	Montreal, QC, Canada
Mar 19-21, 2013	Guideline on Air Quality Models: The Path Forward More Info	Raleigh, NC, USA
Mar 24-29, 2013	37th Stationary Source Sampling & Analysis for Air Pollutants Conference More Info	Hilton Head, SC, USA
Apr 29 - May 1, 2013	CANECT 2013 More Info	Mississauga, ON, Canada
Jun 3-5, 2013	21st International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution More Info	Siena, Italy
Jun 25-28, 2013	A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition More Info	Chicago, IL, USA

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About this Newsletter

This newsletter contains information gleaned from various sources on the web, with complete links to the sources cited. Organizations cited are in no way affiliated with Lakes Environmental Software.

Lakes Environmental Software is a leading environmental IT company that offers a complete line of air dispersion modeling, risk assessment, emissions inventory, and emergency release software as well as training and custom software services. With satisfied users located around the globe, Lakes Environmental Software will continue to revolutionize the environmental software field.

For more information please visit our web site at: www.webLakes.com.  You may also contact us by phone at (519) 746-5995 or by fax at (519)746-0793.

All comments and suggestions are welcome.  You can e-mail us at: support@webLakes.com.

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