Preface  -  COST 710 Final Report

The final report of COST Action 710:

Harmonisation of the pre-processing of meteorological data for atmospheric dispersion models.

consists of five separate parts, preceded by a preface which is reproduced below.


Back to description of the Final Report


Preface

This volume describes studies undertaken under the auspices of COST Action 710, which was concerned with the preprocessing of meteorological data for atmospheric dispersion models. Recently developed dispersion models of the spread of pollution in the atmosphere rely on descriptions of wind, temperature and turbulence profiles throughout the depth of the atmospheric boundary layer. These profiles are given by formulae based on a few fundamental meteorological parameters. Some of the fundamental parameters are not routinely measured at meteorological monitoring stations and therefore processing of routinely observed meterological variables is necessary before dispersion models can be run.

 The purpose of the studies was to compare different methods of processing meteorological information using data sets available and to recommend methods that could be uniformly applied in different countries. Four key areas were identified as being of highest priority: (1) surface energy balance, (2) mixing height determination for dispersion modelling, (3) vertical profiles of wind, temperature and turbulence, and (4) wind flow in complex terrain. This volume is in five sections: an Introduction, which describes the background to the work and explains how the various aspects are related, and four Working Group Reports covering each of the above topics.

Each Working Group Report stands alone so that each can be read independently of the others. This inevitably results in some duplication between the reports particularly when the basic concepts are introduced. This independence was desirable to maintain the continuity, logical structure and ease of use of the separate reports. Each report includes conclusions and recommendations as to how the topic covered in the report may best be treated within the context of dispersion modelling.

 Information about COST710 is on the World Wide Web at:

http://www.dmu.dk/AtmosphericEnvironment/COST_710.htm


Acknowledgements

 The production of this volume represents a co-operative effort by the Management Committee and Working Groups of COST 710 on the "Harmonization in the Preprocessing of Meteorological Data for Atmospheric Dispersion Models". Members of the Management Committee and Working Groups are listed in Appendix A3. However COST710 would wish to particularly acknowledge the role and support of Jean Labrousse, Scientific Secretary during most of the Action, and David Thomson, the chairman during the first part of the Action. In the preparation of this Final Report the helpful role and advice of the Evaluation Committee of Werner Klug, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Gilles Sommeria, Meteo France, and Joze Rakovec, University of Ljubljana, appointed to review and write a report on the progress of COST 710, is also acknowledged.


Related pages
Final Report of COST 710
COST 710 homepage
Initiative on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes


This page is maintained by Helge Rørdam Olesen
It was last modified on
April 9, 1999

Published by the Department of Atmospheric Environment, National Environmental Research Institute (Denmark)