United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Sciences Research  x/ f \
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA-600/S3-82-040  May 1982
Project Summary
Meteorology and Air Quality
Modeling in Complex Terrain—
A  Literature  Review
Gerard A. DeMarrais and Terry L. Clark
  Modeling air quality in  complex
terrain has been and remains to be a
difficult task simply because  of the
difficulty in parameterizing the com-
plex wind flow regimes. Due to the
complex terrain, significant submeso-
scale forces are established to perturb
the mesoscale wind field. These forces
must first ba* better understood and
the algorithms must be developed to
adequately simulate the effects of
these forces before one can hope to
reasonably model air quality in com-
plex terrain. This literature review sum-
marizes over 250 studies of meteor-
ology and air quality modeling in
complex terrain for the benefit of those
who wish to broaden their knowledge
of the subject.
  This Project Summary was develop-
ed by EPA's Environmental Sciences
Research Laboratory, Research Trian-
gle Park, NC, to announce key findings
of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).


  The concern for air quality in valleys
and the effects of plume impaction on
mountain slopes in  the Appalachian
Mountains and in the western United
States created the need for accurate air
quality simulation models applicable to
complex terrain to (1) assess environ-
mental impacts  of proposed  power
plants and smelters and (2) predict the
likelihood of  violating environmental
standards near proposed or existing
plants assuming various emission and
meteorological scenarios. The process
of developing accurate air quality simu-
lation models for complex terrain has
been slow because meteorological vari-
ables are greatly influenced by complex
factors that are difficult to model ade-
quately. One must understand the
effects of terrain on the meteorological
variables before it is possible to accur-
ately model the air quality.
  As an aid  to better understanding
terrain effects on meteorological vari-
ables in complex terrain, this literature
review provides a historical perspective
and an extensive bibliography of over
250 studies with a brief description of
each  study of  meteorology and air
quality modeling in complex terrain. For
the convenience of the user, brief de-
scriptions of these studies are categor-
ized  and  listed chronologically in 13
tables according to topic. Some listings
are found in more than one table since
they relate to more than one topic. In
addition, an uncategorized, chronolog-
ical listing of references accompanied
by a short description of the study is
included.

  topics considered in this report are as
follows:
  1.  Meteorological phenomena ob-
     served in complex terrain
  2.  Theories on flow in complex terrain
  3.  Long-range transport in complex
     terrain
  4.  Windward  slope phenomena

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    5.  Leeward slope phenomena
    6.  Results of field studies - meteoro-
       logical phenomena
    7.  Results of field studies - transport
       and diffusion
    8.  Models of meteorological phenom-
       ena
    9.  Models of transport and diffusion
   10.  Numerical,  statistical,  and  com-
       puter simulation studies
   11.  Wind tunnel, water channel, and
       other laboratory experiments
   12.  Isolated mountain studies
   13.  Summary reports
          The EPA authors Gerard A. DeMarrais and Tarry L. Clark falso the EPA Project
            Officer, see below) are with the Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory,
            Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
          The complete report, entitled "Meteorology and A ir Quality Modeling in Complex
          Terrain—A Literature Review,"(Order No. PB 82-200 247; Cost: $12.00, subject
            to change) will be available only from:
                  National Technical Information Service
                  5285 Port Royal Road
                  Springfield, VA 22161
                  Telephone: 703-487-4650
          The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
                  Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory
                  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                  Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
                                                                            US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1982 — 559-017/0731
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Environmental Protection
Agency
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Information
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