Title: Comparison of two point-to-point protocols for transport and dispersion model evaluations

Authors: Nathan Platt; Steve Warner; James F. Heagy; Jeffry T. Urban

Addresses: Institute for Defense Analyses, 4850 Mark Centre Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-1882, USA ' Institute for Defense Analyses, 4850 Mark Centre Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-1882, USA ' Institute for Defense Analyses, 4850 Mark Centre Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-1882, USA ' Institute for Defense Analyses, 4850 Mark Centre Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-1882, USA

Abstract: Historically, assessments of transport and dispersion models have involved comparisons to field trial data using quantities derived from observations - e.g., maximum concentrations or plume widths. Recently, several methodologies that compare observations and predictions paired in space and time have been developed. Two protocols designed to deal with low observed or predicted values have emerged. One requires that the observation and prediction exceed a threshold before being considered for comparison. The other protocol requires that either the observation or the prediction exceed the threshold before being considered for comparison. This paper compares the potential effects of these protocols to model assessments.

Keywords: atmospheric transport models; dispersion modelling; point-to-point protocol; model evaluations; threshold values; environmental pollution; air pollution; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.047324

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.47 No.1/2/3/4, pp.26 - 33

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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