Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Liaison Committee

ADMLC provides independent advice on atmospheric dispersion.

Role of the group

ADMLC is an independent body that investigates and reports on atmospheric dispersion modelling methods and related phenomena. Its findings are used in the authorisation or licensing of discharges into the atmosphere that result from industrial, commercial or industrial sites. The committee’s emphasis is on fixed sources, rather than transport sources, and it covers both routine releases and accident conditions.

Although the committee was formed to consider primarily the nuclear industry, it has expanded its interests and membership to more fully reflect the needs of industrial and regulatory organisations.

ADMLC facilitates the exchange of ideas and highlights where there are gaps in knowledge. It tries to provide guidance to, and to endorse good practice in, the dispersion modelling community.

ADMLC occasionally commissions work on specific topics. Requests for information about future contracts should be sent to the secretariat.

For details of the group’s current activities please go to the ADMLC website.

Terms of reference

Areas of technical interest

  1. ADMLC’s main aim is to review current understanding of atmospheric dispersion and related phenomena for application primarily in authorization or licensing of discharges to atmosphere resulting from industrial, commercial or institutional sites. ADMLC is primarily concerned with dispersion from a particular regulated site or from discrete sources, and will not normally consider work in the following areas: traffic pollution, acid rain and ozone.

  2. ADMLC is concerned both with releases under controlled conditions occurring at a constant rate over long periods, and with releases over shorter periods such as accidents or controlled situations where the release rate varies.

  3. ADMLC is concerned with modelling dispersion at all scales, including on-site and within buildings.

Organisations and outputs

  1. The committee shall consist of representatives of government departments, government agencies and organisations with an interest in modelling dispersion of material for the situations identified above. Each organisation represented on the committee shall pay an annual membership fee.

  2. ADMLC believes that it can be most effective by limiting its membership to about 25 organisations. New organisations will only be admitted to membership of ADMLC if the majority of existing members agree to their membership.

  3. ADMLC aims to review, collate, interpret and encourage research into applied dispersion modelling problems. It does not endorse particular brands or suppliers of commercial models. However, it is concerned to ensure that users for industrial applications are aware of what is available, how it can be applied to particular problems and of the uncertainties in the results.

  4. The committee will commission work on selected topics. These should be selected following discussion and provisional agreement at meetings of the committee, followed by confirmation after the meeting. It will produce reports describing current knowledge on these topics. These may be reports from contractors chosen by the committee or may be based on the outcome of conferences or workshops organised on behalf of the committee. The money raised from membership fees will be used to fund contractors, organise workshops and report on their outcome, and any other matters which the committee may decide.

Publications

Our publications are available on the ADMLC website.

Contact

Contact ADMLC through the secretariat at Public Health England.

Email: admlc@phe.gov.uk

Justin Smith and Peter Bedwell
ADMLC Secretariat
Public Health England
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 0RQ

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