Lakes Environmental Presents AERMOD and CALPUFF Courses in Spain

Our Spanish distributor, Addlink Software Cientifico, will host Lakes Environmental for a 2-day AERMOD course on June 30-July 1, and a 3-day CALPUFF course on July 2-4, 2008 in Madrid, Spain. The course notes and presentation will be in English. If you wish to attend, please contact Addlink at info@addlink.es or check our Upcoming Courses section to register.

IRAP-h View™ Version 3.3 Released

Lakes Environmental is proud to announce the release of IRAP-h View version 3.3 on June 4, 2008. This version includes new annotation tools, report filtering by receptor, and interface enhancements. For an extensive list of the changes and new options in IRAP-h View, please see the latest release notes available on our website.

If you are currently in maintenance for IRAP-h View and did not receive an email regarding the update, please contact us at support@weblakes.com.

If you are a user of IRAP-h View but are no longer in maintenance, contact us at info@weblakes.com for appropriate pricing information for your maintenance renewal.

Third Volume of Air Quality Modeling Available; Dr. Jesse Thé a Co-Author

Dr. Jesse Thé of Lakes Environmental has contributed to the third Volume of Air Quality Modeling - Theories, Methodologies, Computational Techniques, and Available Databases and Software: Special Issues, published by the EnviroComp Institute and the Air & Waste Management Association. The chapter, entitled Emission Modeling and Inventory, was co-written with Doug Solomon of the US EPA.
The book is now available directly from the EnviroComp Institute website.

Toronto AERMOD Course in June Almost Sold Out! Register Now!

The 2-day AERMOD course in Toronto on June 16-17, 2008 has only two spots left. Act quickly to attend; please contact us at training@weblakes.com or check our Upcoming Courses section to register.

WRPLOT View Version 5.9 Released!

Lakes Environmental is proud to announce the release of version 5.9 of WRPLOT View on June 12, 2008. Download your free copy today!
Download WRPLOT View - Version 5.9 – Freeware

Only a Week Left Until A&WMA’s 101st Annual Conference & Exhibition!

Lakes Environmental Software invites you to join us at A&WMA’s 101^st Annual Conference & Exhibition. This event is taking place on June 24-27, 2008 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Julie Swatson and Mr. Ryan Freedman will be located at booth 425 to perform software demonstrations answer and questions. Drop by our booth at AWMA 2008 for your chance to win a free copy of AERMOD View!

To obtain conference information and register, visit the A&WMA website: www.secure.awma.org

Lakes Environmental Closed For Canada Day

Lakes Environmental will be closed on Tuesday, July 1st to observe the Canada Day holiday. If you have any pressing needs during that time, please email us at support@weblakes.com and we will contact you July 2^nd, 2008 when we re-open.

We’ve set a number of training dates for 2008, with additional courses to be announced soon! Be sure to register in advance; spots are limited.

AERMOD Courses

CALPUFF Courses

⁽¹⁾ Course materials and presentation will be in English.

For more information on the above courses, including registration information, location, and course outlines, please visit our web site: www.weblakes.com/course.

Zero Contours Around a Source

In some cases, users of the US EPA AERMOD model, or other air dispersion models, may notice that there is a blank or zero contour around their point source.

Such a contour represents an area of zero concentration, and in certain situations is not unexpected. When a plume is released from an elevated source, it takes time for the plume to disperse down to ground level; in this time the plume will travel downwind. This means that the plume will have traveled away from the source before it reaches the ground.

This behavior is the most noticeable for tall sources, particularly when only a single source is modeled. However, depending on the meteorological and topographical situation, a blank contour may not be present at all.

Remember: We are currently accepting submissions for the Monthly Modeling Tip that appears in our newsletters. If you have a modeling tip that may benefit a variety of people, please send it to us at support@weblakes.com. Your name and the name of your organization will appear below the tip providing you with greater exposure.

Modest African Footprint Still Approaching Limits

June 9, 2008 - Individual Africans might consume less on average than residents of any other continent, but rising population is bringing Africa close to its ecological limits, the first ever detailed assessment of Africa’s ecological footprint has found.

Africa-Ecological Footprint and human well-being, prepared for WWF by the Global Footprint Network and released at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment today finds the average African had an Ecological Footprint (an estimate of the area of land or sea used annually in providing for personal consumption) of 1.1 global hectares in 2003, well below the global average of 2.2 hectares per person.
Read Article

To Cope With Oil Shock, Emulate Japan

June 9, 2008 - With the price of oil rocketing to the unprecedented level of $130 a barrel, there is a talk of another oil shock. Unfortunately, unlike past instances, this one is unlikely to subside, and may indeed keep intensifying. The only way out is for Western nations, the gluttonous users of petroleum, to cut their consumption and emulate Japan in its consistent drive for energy efficiency and alternate sources.
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$45 Trillion 'Revolution' Against Warming Urged

June 6, 2008 – TOKYO - The world needs to invest $45 trillion in energy in coming decades, building some 1,400 nuclear power plants and vastly expanding wind power, in order to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to an energy study released Friday.

The report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency envisions an "energy revolution" that would greatly reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining steady economic growth.
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GOP Blocks Senate's Global Warming Bill

June 6, 2008 – WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, after a bitter debate over its economic costs and whether it would substantially raise gasoline and other energy prices.

Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster on the measure and bring the bill up for a vote. The 48-36 vote failed to reach even a majority, a disappointment to the bill's supporters.
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Mexico City Smog Hurting People's Sense of Smell

June 6, 2008 - MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Chronic pollution in Mexico City, which stains the sky yellow and can trigger government warnings to stay indoors, could be killing off residents' sense of smell, scientists say.

Tests showed people in Mexico City -- a sprawling metropolis crammed with around 20 million people and 4 million cars -- struggled to sniff out everyday odors like coffee and orange juice compared to residents of a nearby town.
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McGuinty, Charest Ink Emissions Plan

June 2, 2008 - QUEBEC - Canada's two biggest provinces exercised their economic and political clout Monday as they signed a series of agreements geared at pressuring Ottawa to move aggressively on international trade and the environment.

The Liberal premiers of Quebec and Ontario wrapped up their first joint cabinet session by pledging to work together to cut greenhouse gases.
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Here are a few conferences and trade shows coming up in the next few months:

*** Lakes Environmental is attending: AWMA