Modeling Tips

AERMOD View - Decrease AERMAP Runtimes

AERMAP is the US EPA’s terrain preprocessor for the AERMOD modeling system. AERMAP reads digital terrain and calculates base elevations for sources and receptors and hill height scale factors for receptors. Users of AERMOD View know they can easily access digital terrain data via the WebGIS automated download feature which includes access to worldwide terrain data.

AERMOD View - Concentration File Maker Utility

The AERMOD air dispersion model allows users to input time-varying concentration data to represent background sources to be added to the model’s calculations. This can be done by directly adding background concentrations to modeled pollutant concentrations or, in the case of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), by adding background ozone or NO_x concentrations to assist in estimating how much NO₂ is formed through chemical transformation.

CALPUFF View - Defining Receptors in CALPOST

The CALPUFF model allows users to specify receptors in two different formats:

1. Gridded Receptors are defined as the Sampling Grid in which receptor locations are defined by the Meteorological Grid dimensions and extents.
2. Discrete Receptors are located based on user-defined coordinates for each individual receptor.