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For over a decade the Atmospheric and Dispersion Modeling Team has been conducting research and application studies focused on observations and modeling of atmospheric and dispersion processes over complex topography and coastal areas. In particular, the team is applying, developing, and evaluating high resolution mesoscale meteorological models (primarily MM5, but also CALMET, RAMS, ARPS, and COAMPS) as well as regulatory and advanced atmospheric dispersion models (ISC3ST, AERMOD, WYNDVALLEY, ASPEN, CALPUFF). They have developed a Lagrangian Random Particle Dispersion Model that has been applied to complex coastal and inland environments.

Current activities include investigation of the diurnal effects of local circulations and their impact on the transport and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants and tracers in coastal regions as well as the formation of offshore fog, the effects of the curl of wind stress on the upwelling of coastal waters, and the coupling between atmospheric and ocean models.

Several of recent projects led to the development of a real time mesoscale forecasting system using the MM5 model coupled with a Lagrangian random particle dispersion model and implementation of data assimilation schemes.