Chapter 57
Comparison of the Performance
of AERMOD and CALPUFF Dispersion
Model Outputs to Monitored Data
Jackson Mak, Camille Taylor, Melanie Fillingham and Jamie McEvoy
Abstract AERMOD and CALPUFF are two Ontario approved regulatory air dispersion models used to assess air quality compliance to provincial standards. Modelled
results from these dispersion models may not always be representative of actual
concentrations due to their inherent assumptions and atmospheric simplifications.
This research aims to assess the near field performance of these two models by comparing modelled concentrations predictions with monitored observations. The case
study analyzed was for 24 h average nickel (Ni) from a Facility located in Northern
Ontario. The Facility has a monitoring program set up to measure dust, from which
the monitored metal concentrations were speciated. Statistical analysis of the modelled results demonstrated that CALPUFF 24 h average modelled concentrations
showed better agreement with monitored results than those modelled using AERMOD, however, even these CALPUFF results were often 2x (or 0.5x) the monitored
value.
57.1 Introduction
In Ontario, local air quality is regulated under O. Reg. 419/05. Within this regulation,
two dispersion models are approved for assessing compliance with provincial standards, AERMOD v14134 (a steady-state Gaussian dispersion model) and CALPUFF
v.6.263 level 080827 (a Lagrangian puff model). In general, models tend to be conservative. When compared to maximum monitored results, research has found that
J. Mak (B) · C. Taylor (B) · M. Fillingham (B) · J. McEvoy (B)
Golder Associates Ltd., Ottawa, ON K2H 5B7, Canada
e-mail: Jackson_Mak@golder.com
C. Taylor
e-mail: Camille_Taylor@golder.com
M. Fillingham
e-mail: Melanie_Fillingham@golder.com
J. McEvoy
e-mail: Jamie_McEvoy@golder.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Mensink et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XXVI,
Springer Proceedings in Complexity,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22055-6_57
357
Comparison of the Performance
of AERMOD and CALPUFF Dispersion
Model Outputs to Monitored Data
Jackson Mak, Camille Taylor, Melanie Fillingham and Jamie McEvoy
Abstract AERMOD and CALPUFF are two Ontario approved regulatory air dispersion models used to assess air quality compliance to provincial standards. Modelled
results from these dispersion models may not always be representative of actual
concentrations due to their inherent assumptions and atmospheric simplifications.
This research aims to assess the near field performance of these two models by comparing modelled concentrations predictions with monitored observations. The case
study analyzed was for 24 h average nickel (Ni) from a Facility located in Northern
Ontario. The Facility has a monitoring program set up to measure dust, from which
the monitored metal concentrations were speciated. Statistical analysis of the modelled results demonstrated that CALPUFF 24 h average modelled concentrations
showed better agreement with monitored results than those modelled using AERMOD, however, even these CALPUFF results were often 2x (or 0.5x) the monitored
value.
57.1 Introduction
In Ontario, local air quality is regulated under O. Reg. 419/05. Within this regulation,
two dispersion models are approved for assessing compliance with provincial standards, AERMOD v14134 (a steady-state Gaussian dispersion model) and CALPUFF
v.6.263 level 080827 (a Lagrangian puff model). In general, models tend to be conservative. When compared to maximum monitored results, research has found that
J. Mak (B) · C. Taylor (B) · M. Fillingham (B) · J. McEvoy (B)
Golder Associates Ltd., Ottawa, ON K2H 5B7, Canada
e-mail: Jackson_Mak@golder.com
C. Taylor
e-mail: Camille_Taylor@golder.com
M. Fillingham
e-mail: Melanie_Fillingham@golder.com
J. McEvoy
e-mail: Jamie_McEvoy@golder.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Mensink et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XXVI,
Springer Proceedings in Complexity,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22055-6_57
357