Three-dimensional wind field estimates in complex terrain.

Air pollution dispersion modelling in complex terrain is dependent upon adequate modelling of the three dimensional wind fields. This study presents the results of the application of two different wind field models, which have been applied for simulating the wind in a complex terrain area with coastlines, valleys and mountains. One model is the diagnostic model MATHEW, currently applied at NILU, and the second is a prognostic windfield model incorporated in the Air Pollution Model (TAPM), developed by CSIRO (Australia). The comparison study shows generally good performance of both models for simulating different complex terrain effects such assea and land breezes, but several discrepancies during diurnal oscilation of winds have been remarked.