DEVELOPMENT AND TEST OF AN EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR HEAVY GAS DISPERSION MODELS

In order to improve the quality (i.e. fitness-for-purpose) of models u sed to describe the atmospheric dispersion of heavy gas, an evaluation methodology has been developed and tested through a small evaluation exercise. This activity was carried out by the Heavy Gas Dispersion Ex pert Group, which was set up by European Commission's Model Evaluation Group. Its objective was to develop a protocol for evaluation of the models and to make an overview of the experimental data available for such an evaluation. The main results of the Expert Group's activities are: (i) a tested heavy gas dispersion model evaluation protocol, (ii) a list and classification of available models and (iii) a list and cl assification of relevant data-sets, Furthermore, it is concluded that there is a need for a more extensive evaluation exercise and that the scientific evaluation requires more attention, (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.