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THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY VISUAL PLUMES MODELING SOFTWARE
Citation:
FRICK, W. E. THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY VISUAL PLUMES MODELING SOFTWARE. Presented at Technical University of Crete Lecture, Crete, GREECE, January 31, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
A main objective of this task is to combine empirical and physical mechanisms in a model, known as Visual Beach, that
â— is user-friendly
â— includes point and non-point sources of contamination
â— includes the latest bacterial decay mechanisms
â— incorporates real-time and web-based ambient and atmospheric and aquatic conditions
â— and has a predictive capability of up to three days to help avert potential beach closures.
The suite of predictive capabilities for this software application can enhance the utility of new methodology for analysis of indicator pathogens by identifying times that represent the highest probability of bacterial contamination. Successful use of this model will provide a means to direct timely collection of monitoring samples, strengthening the value of the short turnaround time for sampling. Additionally, in some cases of known point sources of bacteria, such as waste water treatment plant discharges, the model can be applied to help guide operational controls to help prevent resulting beach closures.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Center for Exposure Assessment Modeling (CEAM) at the Ecosystems Research Division in Athens, Georgia develops environmental exposure models, including plume models, and provides technical assistance to model users. The mixing zone and far-field modeling application, Visual Plumes (VP), is a recent addition to the public-domain models available on the center's web page.