Modeling

Staff scientists are involved in the development and implementation of visibility air quality-related computer modeling techniques, including:

Visibility-related radiative transfer modeling. Computer image simulation of visibility degradation. Visual perception models. Back trajectory models. Air quality transport and dispersion modeling of stationary and mobile emission sources to determine compliance with NAAQS, PSD increment limits, and other regulatory requirements. Model comparison, testing, and evaluation. Model installation, modification, documentation, and training. Algorithm development. Integration of monitoring results with modeling applications.

ARS has been an integral developer of the NPS-sponsored WinHaze program used extensively to generate image simulations of visibility degradation. Visibility modeling has been applied to support congressional hearings, special studies, and a broad range of regulatory, research, and experimental applications. Air quality models are applied to project the impacts of source emissions. The results of these models are often used to support permitting.