Improving the low-wind performance of the AERMOD atmospheric dispersion model for predicting short-range impacts of livestock ammonia emissions.


Autoria(s): Theobald, Mark Richard; Sutton, Mark A.
Data(s)

2013

Resumo

Short-range impacts to sensitive ecosystems as a result of ammonia emitted by livestock farms are often assessed using atmospheric dispersion modelling systems such as AERMOD. These assessments evaluate mean annual atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and nitrogen deposition rates at the ecosystem location for comparison with ecosystem damage thresholds. However, predictions of mean annual atmospheric concentrations can be dominated by periods of stable night-time conditions, which can contribute significantly to mean concentrations. AERMOD has been demonstrated to overestimate concentrations in certain stable low-wind conditions and so the model could potentially overestimate the short-range impacts of livestock ammonia emissions. This paper tests several modifications to the parameterisation of AERMOD (v12345) that aim to improve model predictions in low-wind conditions. The modifications are first described and then are applied to three pig farm case studies in the USA, Denmark and Spain to assess whether the modifications improve long-term mean ammonia concentration predictions through improved model performance. For these three case studies, most of the modifications tested improved model performance as a result of reducing the long-term mean concentration predictions, with the largest effect for low- or ground-level sources (e.g. slurry lagoons or naturally ventilated housing).

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://oa.upm.es/26644/

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

E.T.S.I. Agrónomos (UPM)

Relação

http://oa.upm.es/26644/1/INVE_MEM_2013_161552.pdf

Direitos

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Fonte

15th Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes | Proceedings of 15th Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes, Madrid, Spain | 06/05/2013 - 09/05/2013 | Madrid, Spain

Palavras-Chave #Agricultura
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObject

Ponencia en Congreso o Jornada

PeerReviewed