Comparison of CALPUFF and AERMOD Models for Odour Dispersion Simulation

Abstract

Different types of models can be used to simulate the odour dispersion into the atmosphere. This work aims to compare two dispersion models that are widely used for regulatory purposes (Dresser and Huizer, 2011): the steady-state, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) model AERMOD, and the non-steady-state puff model CALPUFF. The comparison focuses on how meteorological conditions (i.e., stable vs. instable conditions) and source type (i.e., point vs. area source) affect the modelling results, thereby allowing to analyse the differences based on the characteristic dispersion equations of the two above mentioned models.