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Lakes Environmental Software
Volume 9 - Issue 9 Monthly Newsletter - September 2008
 
News & Events
Upcoming Courses
Monthly Modeling Tip
This Month’s Articles
Conferences & Trade Shows
About this Newsletter
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News & Events

Export to Google EarthTM - Coming Soon!

Lakes Environmental Software development team is working on new versions of its popular air dispersion modelling software packages: AERMOD ViewTM, CALPUFF ViewTM, AUSTAL ViewTM and the new ARTM ViewTM.

One exciting new feature is the Export to Google Earth option, which allows you to export layers from your project, including buildings, sources, and results, to a KML file for visualization in Google Earth. This functionality will be included as a standard feature, at no extra cost, on upcoming releases of these products.

Sample Google Earth files, exported from Lakes Environmental applications, are available on our website. See how this will enhance your modeling project!

See Samples

Act Quickly! Only Three Spaces Left in October AERMOD Course in Boston.

Lakes Environmental will be in Boston to deliver a 2-day AERMOD course on October 25-26, 2008. There are only a few spots left so register now to attend.

Please contact us at training@weblakes.com or check the Upcoming Courses section on our website to register.

Dr. Jesse Thé Co-Author of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering Calculations

Dr. Jesse Thé, the president of Lakes Environmental, is one of the authors of the Second Volume of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering Calculations, published by the McGraw-Hill.

The chapter, entitled Air Toxic Risk Assessment, was co-written with David A. Weeks. Dr. Thé and Mr. Weeks previously collaborated on the U.S. EPA's national guidance on how to perform risk assessments at hazardous waste combustion facilities (HHRAP U.S. EPA Final, Nov 2006).

The book is now available directly from McGraw-Hill’s website as well as at Amazon.com (Hardcover and Kindle Edition) and retail stores.

Brazil AERMOD Course Sold Out!
A Few Spaces Available for the CALPUFF Course

Lakes Environmental and SECA - Consultoria em Clima e Meio Ambiente Ltda are pleased to announce that the 2-day AERMOD course, on November 3-4 in São Paulo, Brazil, is sold out.

There are only a few remaining spots available in the CALPUFF training course on November 5-7, 2008, so you should act quickly to attend. The course presentation will be in Portuguese; course notes and presentation slides will be in English. If you wish to attend, please contact Mr. Silvio de Oliveira of SECA at silvoliv@uol.com.br.

Lakes Environmental Closed For the Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday

Lakes Environmental will be closed on Monday, October 13th to observe the Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday. If you have any pressing needs during that time, please email us at support@weblakes.com and we will contact you October 14th, 2008 when we re-open.

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Upcoming Courses

We’ve set a number of training dates for 2008. Please be sure to register in advance as spots are limited.

AERMOD Courses

Sep. 25-26, 2008 Toronto, ON, Canada

FULL

Oct. 23-24, 2008 Boston, MA, USA
Nov. 03-04, 2008 São Paulo, SP, Brazil

FULL

Nov. 20-21, 2008 San Diego, CA, USA

CALPUFF Courses

Nov. 05-07, 2008 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
A few spaces still available!
For more information on the above courses, including registration information, location, and course outlines, please visit our web site: www.weblakes.com/course.
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Monthly Modeling Tip

On-Site Data in AERMET

The on-site data option in the US EPA AERMET model allows you to use data collected at an on-site meteorological tower, either in conjunction with a National Weather Service (NWS) hourly surface meteorological file or instead of it.

On-Site Data with an NWS Surface File

If you specify both on-site data and an NWS surface file, your on-site data may contain as many or as few parameters as you wish. Parameters from the on-site data will be used in preference to the NWS surface data but if an onsite parameter is missing for a given hour, or if the on-site data is insufficient for AERMET to run, the NWS data will be used as needed.

On-Site Data Instead of an NWS Surface File

If the on-site data contains sufficient information, it may be used instead of an NWS file. In this case, the on-site file must meet certain minimum requirements in order for AERMET to run successfully. The on-site data could contain the same minimum parameters that are required for NWS data (on-site parameter name in brackets):

  • Wind Direction (WD01)
  • Wind Speed (WS01)
  • Temperature (TT01)
  • Sky Cover/Cloud Cover (TSKY)

If cloud cover is not available, it is also possible to use the Bulk Richardson method, which uses a two level temperature difference for night time stability and insolation or net radiation for day time stability. Note that the temperature difference must be provided explicitly as a difference rather than as two temperature values. When the Bulk Richardson method is used the minimum requirements are:

  • Wind Direction (WD01)
  • Wind Speed (WS01)
  • Temperature (TT01)
  • Insolation (INSO) or Net Radiation (NRAD)
  • Temperature Difference (DT01)
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.
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This Month's Articles

Allergies Getting Worse? Blame Global Warming
Sept 15, 2008 - One of the few potentially positive effects of climate change, at least in the short term, is that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may enhance the growth of plants. That could be good for agriculture - though warming temperatures and changing rain patterns in a warmer world might wipe out that advantage. But there are no unalloyed gifts from climate change. Recent research suggests that global warming will also exacerbate respiratory allergies, as higher CO2 concentrations lead to vast increases in ragweed pollen production. "There's no denying there's a change," says Paul Ratner, an immunologist with the American College of Allergies. "It's definitely bad news for people who have allergies."
Read Article
Lowest Ever Sea Ice in Arctic
Sept. 15, 2008 - Declining ice thickness and what is looking like the second lowest coverage on record means that Arctic sea ice may well have reached its lowest levels ever in terms of total volume.

Final figures on minimum ice coverage for 2008 are expected in a matter of days, but they are already flirting with last year’s record low of 1.59 million square miles, or 4.13 million square kilometres.
Read Article
African Renewable Energy Gains Attention
Sept. 12, 2008 - The potential for renewable energy development in Africa is experiencing an increase in attention lately as investors and world leaders seek a new clean energy frontier.

The continent could become a gold mine for renewable energy due to abundant solar and wind resources. But roadblocks to clean energy worldwide are amplified throughout the troubled regions of Africa - financial resources are thin and infrastructure is often unreliable.
Read Article
New Battle Over Arctic Oil Plans
Sept. 11, 2008 – The grey waters of the Arctic Ocean are the scene for a new battle over plans for a huge expansion in the drilling of oil and gas far beyond the Alaskan shore.

With the Arctic ice-cap melting far beyond average for the second year running - and with US petrol prices above $4 per gallon - there's growing pressure to exploit the reserves beneath the seabed.
Read Article
The 'Greening' of America's Two Biggest Ports
Sept. 9, 2008 - America's ports are not generally thought of as the most ecologically advanced places on the planet. But a green wave is lapping at their shores. This summer, officials at the polluted twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach began a program to convince container-ship captains to wean their engines off dirty-burning "bunker fuel" and instead use relatively clean marine diesel oil while idling in port. Up until recently, that hasn't been an easy sell. While marine diesel has just one tenth the sulfur, it costs an extra $650 a ton. That can add up quickly, especially during a typical three-day port of call. As an incentive to participate in their alternative-fuels program, port officials are making up the cost difference.
Read Article
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Conferences & Trade Shows

Here are a few conferences and trade shows coming up in the next few months:
Oct. 7-9, 2008 Eco-Tech Scandinavia
more info
Göteborg, Sweden
Oct. 12-16, 2008 2008 Joint Conference: International Society for Exposure Analysis (ISEA)
more info
Pasadena, California, USA
Oct. 22-24, 2008 Canadian Brownfields 2008
more info
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Oct. 28-30, 2008 ChemEng08
more info
Birmingham, UK
Oct. 28-31, 2008 Eco Expo Asia 2008
more info
Hong Kong, China
Nov. 3-6, 2008 Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology (A&WMA)
more info
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Nov. 12, 2008 Environmental Compliance Conference 2008
more info
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nov. 18, 2008 E3 2008
more info
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Dec. 2-5, 2008 Pollutec 2008
more info
Lyon, France
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About This Newsletter

This newsletter contains information gleaned from various sources on the web, with complete links to the sources cited. Organizations cited are in no way affiliated with Lakes Environmental Software.

Lakes Environmental Software is a leading environmental IT company that offers a complete line of air dispersion modeling, risk assessment, emissions inventory, and emergency release software as well as training and custom software services. With satisfied users located around the globe, Lakes Environmental Software will continue to revolutionize the environmental software field.

For more information please visit our web site at: www.weblakes.com.  You may also contact us by phone at (519) 746-5995 or by fax at (519) 746-0793.

All comments and suggestions are welcome.  You can e-mail us at: support@weblakes.com
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