Objective
There are many models in Europe for predicting atmospheric dispersion. Ideally, when such models are applied the results should lead to consistent environmental assessments. This requires comparability of both models and the forms of meteorological data needed as input to them.
The objective of COST Action 710 is to attempt to co-ordinate the methods used to pre-process meteorological data for dispersion models, in particular the methods used by the data-providers (notably national meteorological services) with the aim of encouraging more consistency in procedures.
Current status Based on recommendations made by the Technical Committee on Meteorology, the Committee of Senior Officials has supported establishment of Action COST 710, to carry out studies and researches required to reach the objective above mentioned.
To achieve it three main means have been identified :
Characterisation of the dispersive properties of the atmosphere by meteorologically based fundamental parameters ;
Intercomparison of methods used to estimate the fundamental input parameters ;
Data-sets used in the comparison of methods of estimating the fundamental input parameters.
The corresponding MoU has been signed by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Hungary, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom and has come into effect for two years from 3 March 1994.
A questionnaire on activities, practices and areas of interest of participating countries has been prepared and distributed, and the answers analysed, by the Chairman.
Based on this analysis, the Managing Committee has established four Working Groups :
WG1 on "Surface energy balance" ;
WG2 on "Boundary layer depth" ;
WG3 on "Profiles" ; and
WG4 on "Complex terrain".
A general work plan has been adopted and each of the four WGs is preparing a detailed one for its own domain of responsibility.
Based on these working plans it has been decided to prolong the Action for one year.
The Committee has started to collect information on existing data-sets of interest for the Action.
To avoid any risk of duplicating efforts, systematic contact and exchange of information has been organised with CITAIR, in particular with Action 615, dealing with model dispersion applied to urban pollution studies.
On the basis of the work done within the Working Groups a workshop has been organised, in collaboration with Action 615. This Workshop on "Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion for Regulatory Purposes" will be the fourth of a series, started in 1992, to investigate all aspects of this kind of models..
It has also been supported by the European Research Community on Flow, Turbulence and Combustion (ERCOFACT), the European Association for the Science of Air Pollution (EURASAP), and the National Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, België (NFWO).
The Action has produced a poster that has been presented at the Basel COST Interaction Conference, 9/11 Oct. 1995.
Results of this Workshop and of Working Groups will be the base of the final report of the Action.
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1049 Brussels
Belgium