A survey of meteorologically-based systems for airborne-release hazard emergencies

Weather plays a key role in responding to emergencies caused by airborne-released hazards. This role may manifest as a cause, a cure, and/or a subsequent influence on the hazardous event's evolution. Atmospheric scientists have proposed and employed various meteorological models to generate emergency-relevant information. While models are a major contributor toward answering life-threatening situations, the survey organized for this investigation took on a wider perspective and focused on complete, end-to-end service systems. That is, systems which are able to sample and diagnose the current atmospheric conditions, as well as, to generate useful information for emergency responders. To narrow the potential survey population, we confined the resources to systems that respond to outdoor chemical releases and include meteorological input. The survey's purpose is not to rate or endorse any system. This paper is intended to provide a sample of the systems found within the investigation.