Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division

ASMD is collaborating with the National Weather Service's (NWS) National Center for Environmental Prediction using a forecast version of the CMAQ modeling system to forecast the next-day ozone concentrations across the northeastern United States. The scope of this program will be expanded to include the continental United States, the forecasting of fine particulate matter concentrations and regional haze (visibility), and the extension of the forecast period to three days in the future.

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The Division provides numerical and physical modeling support to the homeland security mission in protecting against the environmental and health effects of terrorist acts. This involves numerical modeling complemented by physical modeling in the Division's wind tunnel. For example, a 1:600 scale model of lower Manhattan was built and the dispersion of material from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers was studied under various meteorological conditions. Also, dispersion of airborne material around the pentagon were simulated in the wind tunnel. These data are critical for the development and evaluation of advanced models to characterize the dispersion of air contaminants in complex urban areas. Work is underway to construct a model of mid-town Manhattan, downtown Washington, DC and other urban areas of interest in the Division's wind tunnel to address homeland security issues.