page_title: Atmospheric dispersion modeling
section_title: Atmospheric dispersion models
hierarchical_section_title: Atmospheric dispersion modeling / See also / Atmospheric dispersion models
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Les résultats d'une modélisation réussie avec le logiciel AERMOD de l'Environment Protection Agency américaine (EPA) sont présenté sous la forme d'une isocline. English: The results of a successful modelization with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) AERMOD is shown here as an isocline.
context_page_description: Atmospheric dispersion modeling is the mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse in the ambient atmosphere. It is performed with computer programs that include algorithms to solve the mathematical equations that govern the pollutant dispersion. The dispersion models are used to estimate the downwind ambient concentration of air pollutants or toxins emitted from sources such as industrial plants, vehicular traffic or accidental chemical releases. They can also be used to predict future concentrations under specific scenarios. Therefore, they are the dominant type of model used in air quality policy making. They are most useful for pollutants that are dispersed over large distances and that may react in the atmosphere. For pollutants that have a very high spatio-temporal variability and for epidemiological studies statistical land-use regression models are also used.
  Dispersion models are important to governmental agencies tasked with protecting and managing the ambient air quality.
context_section_description: List of atmospheric dispersion models provides a more comprehensive list of models than listed below. It includes a very brief description of each model.
  ADMS
  AERMOD
  ATSTEP
  CALPUFF
  CAMx
  CMAQ
  DISPERSION21
  FLACS
  FLEXPART
  HYSPLIT
  HYPACT
  ISC3
  NAME
  MERCURE
  OSPM
  Fluidyn-Panache
  RIMPUFF
  SAFE AIR
  PUFF-PLUME
  LillPello
  PUMA
  SIRANE
  Vanadis - 3D FEM
caption: Result of an atmospheric dispersion modeling using AERMOD
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