Overview of the Jack Rabbit II (JR II) field experiments and summary of the methods used in the dispersion model comparisons. (15th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fox, Shannon; Hanna, Steven; Mazzola, Thomas; Spicer, Thomas; Chang, Joseph; Gant, Simon
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric environment. Volume 269(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-15
• Subjects: Jack rabbit II -- Chlorine -- Full scale field experiment -- Dense gas -- Atmospheric transport and dispersion -- Source emissions -- Modeling -- Hazard prediction -- HazMat -- Chemical release -- Toxic inhalation hazard (TIH) -- Toxic industrial chemical (TIC); Air -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- Periodicals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118783
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-2310

Abstract

Abstract: This paper serves as an introduction to the special Atmospheric Environment issue on comparisons of 17 widely-used dense-gas dispersion models using observations from the Jack Rabbit II (JR II) chlorine release experiments, which were led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology (DHS S&T) Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) and a collaborative team of interagency partners, and conducted at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground in 2015 and 2016. Nine of the 17 models that were compared were from outside the U.S. Other papers in the Special Issue describe specific aspects (e.g., observations of emissions, meteorology, and concentrations) of the JR II field experiments, results of individual dispersion model simulations for the models and comparisons of model predictions with JR II observations and other models. This paper provides a general overview of the field experiments and a brief summary of the model comparison goals and methods. Highlights: Overview of Jack Rabbit II, the largest ever experimental releases of chlorine. Field test data supports emergency response, industrial safety, risk mitigation. Chlorine concentration data measured at distance intervals up to 11 km downwind. Hundreds of sensors measured meteorological, release rates, and other parameters. Jack Rabbit II data used as basis to compare 17 dense gas dispersion models.