About the plume rise description in the dispersion code SAFE_AIR

SAFE_AIR is a code simulating the transport and diffusion of airborne pollu tants. This code is based on the advection of Gaussian segments and puffs d riven by a 3-D wind field produced by a diagnostic model, able to deal with both non-stationary and inhomogeneous conditions. SAFE AIR is an evolution of the AVACTA II code,'recommended' by the US EPA (United States Environme ntal Protection Agency). We have recently revised the simulation of the plu me rise phenomenon. We have evaluated this last version of the SAFE_AIR cod e against the Kincaid dataset: here we present the results obtained using b oth the plume rise formulae recommended by Briggs and the plume rise Moore model; the interaction between the rising of the plume and the top of the m ixed layer is also taken into account.