The Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region (RJMR) can be characterized as a region affected by distinct and complex mechanisms concerning atmospheric pollutants dispersion and it has been submitted to great transformations in atmospheric emissions configuration. Therefore an evaluation of the current tools, indicated by the local environment agencies for regulatory modeling to obtain new environmental licenses becomes important mainly due to recently discussions by the scientific community concerning modeling practices. In the present context, the air quality regulatory models AERMOD and CALPUFF had their performance evaluated using a typical near field modeling configuration applied to the RJMR. The statistical results showed a better performance of the CALPUFF model than the AERMOD model when applied to the Air Basin III. CALPUFF model shows a more conservative simulation of the problem, with higher concentrations values, while the use of AERMOD model resulted in lower concentrations values. For all evaluation criteria CALPUFF demonstrated to be more realistic in the estimation of the sulfur dioxide concentration when submitted to local dispersions conditions at the studied period, suggesting it is adequate to the RJMR Air Basin III air quality management.
Near-field; AERMOD; CALPUFF; Air Basin III; Rio de Janeiro; air quality modeling; regulatory models
