Lakes Environmental e-Newsletter
In this issue:
- News & Events
- Upcoming Courses
- Modeling Tip: Adding Background Concentrations to Results in AERMOD View
- Articles
- Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows
News & Events
AERMOD & CALPUFF Courses in São Paulo - November 7-11, 2011
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Lakes Environmental is delighted to be heading back to Brazil for a week of AERMOD and CALPUFF training in São Paulo from November 7 to 11, 2011. The course will be hosted by our Brazilian distributor, SECA. Presentation of the course will be in Portuguese with all course materials (presentation slides, course notes, etc) provided in English. We encourage you to register soon in order to reserve your spot. If you are interested in registering for the AERMOD and CALPUFF courses, please contact Silvio de Oliveira at SECA at silvoliv@uol.com.br. |
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Further details including course venue and registration form can be found on our website.
Space is already filling up quickly!
AERMOD Course in San Diego November 17-18, 2011
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Lakes Environmental is travelling to California for two days of AERMOD training in San Diego from November 17 to 18, 2011. We are proud to provide the most comprehensive and cost effective training programs available. The continued success of our training programs is made possible by our proven teaching methods. We not only emphasize the importance of model theory and methodologies, but reinforce these concepts with practical real-world hands-on case studies using today’s most advanced air dispersion modeling software. |
For further information including details of the course location and registration form please visit the Upcoming Courses section of our website.
Register today to reserve your spot!
EPA Delays 10th Conference on Air Quality Models until 2012
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The U.S. EPA rescheduled the 10th Conference on Air Quality Models for March 13 to 15, 2012. Originally scheduled for October 2011, the delay will allow for “more preparation throughout the dispersion modeling community.” The conference will feature sessions devoted to a constructive exchange of ideas for near-term improvements to dispersion models and techniques. A special focus of the conference will be the recent revisions to the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards, specifically the 1-hour NO2, 1-hour SO2, and 24-hour PM2.5 standards. |
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Lakes Environmental Closed for the Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday
Lakes Environmental's Waterloo office will be closed on Monday, October 10, 2011 to observe the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. Our Dallas office will remain open on this day. If you have any needs during that time, please e-mail us at support@webLakes.com and we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Upcoming Courses
Date |
Course |
Location |
Registration |
Sep 21-22, 2011 |
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Oct 17-18, 2011 |
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Nov 7-8, 2011 |
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Nov 17-18, 2011 |
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Dec 12-13, 2011 |
For more information on the above courses, including registration information, location, and course outlines, please visit our web site: https://www.weblakes.com/courses.html.
Modeling Tip
Adding Background Concentrations to Results in AERMOD View
Background concentrations represent the concentration of a given pollutant when the contribution from anthropogenic sources is removed. Background levels are important because, often times, air quality regulations require considering of background concentrations when evaluating compliance with ambient air quality standards. The higher the background level in a certain area, the lower modeled concentrations must be to meet standards.
Beginning with the U.S. EPA AERMOD model version 11103, users can specify background concentrations so that the contribution from background will be automatically added to model results. Background concentrations can be specified using a range of options including uniform or temporally-varying values. Easy-to-use selection options within AERMOD View make it easy to add background concentrations to your modeled results.
- If consideration of background concentrations is required for your project, simply navigate to the Source Pathway window and select the Background Concentrations option.
- Select whether you want to use an hourly background concentration file, temporally-varying values, or a combination of the two. Hourly files can be created using the Concentration File Maker utility. Variable background values are conveniently set up for common temporal conditions including annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, hourly, and combinations thereof.
Note: When used together, the temporally-varying values will replace missing data from the hourly background concentration file.
- The specified background values now exist as a reserved source ID – BACKGROUND. The model will only account for the background in source groups which have this reserved source ID included. To complete this step, navigate to the Source Groups options.
- To include the background concentrations in the results of all sources combined, select the “Include Background in ALL” option.
- Background concentrations can also be added to individual source groups. To do this, create a source group or select an existing group. Click the Add Background button
. Select “Source” to add the BACKGROUND source ID to the selected group. You can also select “Group” to create a source group named BACKGRND which contains only the background concentrations.
After running the model within AERMOD View, background concentrations will have been automatically added to the results for all the source groups which include the BACKGROUND source ID.
Submit Your Modeling Tip Today!
We are currently accepting submissions for the Monthly Modeling Tip section that appears in our newsletters. If you have a modeling tip that may benefit our readers, 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 an opportunity for increased exposure.
Articles
EPA Paves Way for New Ozone Plans for Nation’s Worst Two Air Quality Zones
SAN FRANCISCO - September 8, 2011 - With the continuing goal of improving air quality for millions of Californians, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve the 8-hour ozone air quality plans for the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast areas. These plans, known as State Implementation Plans, are the roadmaps to meeting the Clean Air Act standard of 0.08 parts per million of ozone as measured in 8-hour increments.
“California’s air quality has improved dramatically since the Clean Air Act was approved by Congress more than forty years ago,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Today the Golden State is making a commitment to use clean technologies to solve the air quality challenges faced in the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast.”
Obama Orders Controversial Proposed Ozone Standard Withdrawn
September 2, 2011 - US President Barack Obama ordered US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson to withdraw a proposed ozone national ambient air quality standard. Citing work already under way to update the 2006 limits by 2013, he said he would not ask state and local governments to implement regulations that would be reconsidered so soon.
“I want to be clear: My commitment and the commitment of my administration to protecting public health and the environment is unwavering,” the president said. “I will continue to stand with the hardworking men and women at EPA as they strive every day to hold polluters accountable and protect our families from harmful pollution. And my administration will continue to vigorously oppose efforts to weaken EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act or dismantle the progress we have made.”
EPA Accepts First GHG Reporting Data/Agency Launches Electronic GHG Reporting Tool
WASHINGTON - August 22, 2011 - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching a new tool to allow 28 industrial sectors to submit their 2010 greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution data electronically. Prior to being finalized, more than1,000 stakeholders, including industry associations, states and NGOs tested the electronic GHG Reporting Tool (e-GGRT) to ensure clarity and user-friendliness.
The data collected with e-GGRT will provide the public with important information about the nation’s largest stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollution. Industries and businesses can also use the data to help find ways to decrease carbon pollution, increase efficiency and save money.
Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows
Date |
Conference |
Location |
Sep 19-21, 2011 |
19th International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution |
Malta |
Sep 19-21, 2011 |
2nd North American Conference on Ozone and Ultraviolet Technologies |
Toronto, ON, Canada |
Oct 5-7, 2011 |
CEM 2011: International Conference and Exhibition on Emissions Monitoring |
Prague, Czech Republic |
Oct 18-20, 2011 |
Ninth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology |
Palm Springs, CA, USA |
Nov 1-3, 2011 |
Global Clean Energy Congress & Exhibition |
Calgary, AB, Canada |
Nov 2-3, 2011 |
Carbon Forum Asia |
Singapore |
Nov 13-17, 2011 |
SETAC North America 32nd Annual Meeting |
Boston, MA, USA |
Nov 29-Dec 2, 2011 |
Pollutec Horizons 2011 |
Paris, France |
Jan 16-19, 2012 |
World Future Energy Summit |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
Jan 30- Feb 1, 2012 |
EUEC 2012 |
Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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.