NRPB - W3 Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Liaison Committee Annual Report 2000-2001

Synopsis

In 1977 a meeting of representatives of government departments, utilities and research organisations was held to discuss methods of calculation of atmospheric dispersion for radioactive releases. Those present agreed on the need for a review of recent developments in atmospheric dispersion modelling, and a Working Group was formed. Those present at the meeting formed an informal Steering Committee, that subsequently became the UK Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Liaison Committee. That Committee operated for a number of years. Members of the Working Group worked voluntarily and produced a series of reports. A workshop on dispersion at low wind speeds was also held, but its proceedings were never published.

The Committee has been reorganised and has adopted terms of reference. The organisations represented on the Committee, and the terms of reference adopted, are given in this report. The organisations represented on the Committee pay a small annual subscription. The money thus raised is used to fund reviews on topics agreed by the Committee, and to support in part its secretariat, provided by NRPB. The new arrangements came into place for the start of the 1995-96 financial year. This report describes the sixth year in which the Committee has operated under the new arrangements, and during which it placed one contract, for a review of the most appropriate source of data for short range modelling calculations. The technical specification for this contract is given in this report, and the contract report is attached as an annex to this report. The Committee also organised a set of presentations on techniques for uncertainty analyses; the speakers overheads are given in an annex to this report. The Committee funded ten studies in previous years; they are described in its earlier annual reports.

The Committee intends to place further contracts in future years and would like to hear from those interested in tendering for such contracts. They should contact the Secretary:

Mr J G Smith
National Radiological Protection Board
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 0RQ

Additional information

Includes Options for the Most Appropriate Meteorological Data for Use in Short Range Dispersion Modelling and Methods for Undertaking Uncertainty Analyses

This study was funded by the Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Liaison Committee.

Annex A © The Meteorological Office

Annex B © See the annex

A non-technical summary is also available.

Last reviewed: 29 July 2009