Custom meteorological datasets
Site-specific datasets for any location in Australia, configured to local conditions and the end use of the data.
Custom meteorological datasets, TAPM and WRF modelling, and CALMET, AERMET, CALPUFF and AERMOD-ready inputs for projects across Australia.
Meteorology drives air quality outcomes. Wind, stability, mixing height, rainfall and temperature all change the direction, extent and intensity of an emissions impact. Air Environment's air quality modelling consultants build site-specific meteorological datasets for projects across Australia, supporting approvals, compliance programs, investigations and high-stakes decisions.
Trusted by industry, government, developers and legal teams across Australia
Site-specific datasets for any location in Australia, configured to local conditions and the end use of the data.
We run and optimise prognostic models to produce high-resolution, three dimensional wind, temperature and stability fields across your assessment area.
We build CALMET and AERMET datasets with high-resolution GIS treatment of land use, surface parameters and terrain, improving model accuracy for regulatory assessment.
We convert prognostic model output and weather station observations into the formats CALPUFF and AERMOD need, so dispersion modelling starts from solid inputs.
We combine station observations with reanalysis products to improve representativeness and fill gaps in the record.
We apply quality checks and detailed statistical model performance evaluation, then document the assumptions, so datasets arrive review-ready.
We use GIS and terrain data to configure land use, surface roughness and topographic effects, so plume behaviour reflects the real site rather than a flat approximation.
We explain what the weather means for your impacts and deliver structured reporting built for approvals, licence submissions and peer review.
Buyers usually want to know one thing before anything else: can you run the model my regulator will accept. Here is the full set, and what each one is actually for.
| Model | Type | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| TAPM | Prognostic meteorological | CSIRO's model, used to generate a full meteorological dataset where observations are sparse, unrepresentative or absent. |
| CALMET | Diagnostic meteorological | Builds the varying wind field CALPUFF needs, with GIS treatment of land use, surface roughness and topography. |
| AERMET | Meteorological pre-processor | Prepares surface and upper air data into the surface and profile files AERMOD requires. |
| CALPUFF | Non steady state puff dispersion | Complex terrain, coastal recirculation, calm and light wind conditions, odour, and longer transport distances. |
| AERMOD | Steady state Gaussian plume | Regulatory point, area and volume source assessment on simpler terrain and shorter transport distances. |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
Model choice is not a preference. It is driven by the guideline that applies in your jurisdiction, and by the terrain, sources and receptors involved. Because we run the full range, the recommendation is not shaped by which licence we happen to hold. Legacy models such as AUSPLUME are also available where a historical assessment needs to be reproduced or challenged.
We are air quality consultants first and modellers second. The meteorology is built around the decision in front of you, not around a default model setup.
We tailor the approach to your site and decision context, rather than applying one-size-fits-all settings.
We focus on the meteorological parameters that materially affect dispersion and impact outcomes.
Methods, inputs and limitations are clearly described to withstand regulator and stakeholder scrutiny.
Streamlined workflows and scalable processing deliver on practical approval and reporting timelines.
Where possible we compare outputs against observations and known patterns to build confidence in the dataset.
We explain what the weather means for your project, your risks and your next steps, not just the numbers.
This is the question that sets your budget and your timeline, and it is much cheaper to answer before a scope is written than after.
A weather station installed at or near your site, recording the conditions that actually occur there.
The site sits in complex terrain, a regulator has asked for measured data, or the dataset is likely to be contested.
Typically a full year of record before annual statistics are usable, plus siting, installation and commissioning.
Station siting, exposure and data completeness. A poorly sited station produces a record that will not survive review.
A three dimensional weather field generated by models for your exact location and assessment period.
No representative station sits nearby, the approval timeline is short, or you need several years to capture variability.
Weeks, because the model runs over a historical period rather than waiting for one to pass.
Configuration and validation. Output is only as good as the domain, grid resolution and physics options behind it.
Most projects end up using both: a modelled dataset for coverage and depth, with observations to validate it. We will also tell you when monitoring is not worth the spend on your site.
Every meteorology engagement lands as a defined set of deliverables, not a folder of raw output.
Datasets in the format your dispersion model needs, whether that is CALMET output, a matched AERMET surface and profile pair, or a CALPUFF-ready sequence.
Domain, grid resolution, physics options, land use and surface parameters, all recorded so the configuration can be reproduced by a third party.
Comparison against observations using standard performance measures, so the accuracy of the dataset is quantified rather than asserted.
Seasonal and annual wind roses, stability class distributions, and the mixing height statistics that drive worst-case conditions.
Plain-English interpretation of what the meteorology means for your impacts, structured for approvals and peer review.
We answer regulator and peer reviewer questions on the dataset after submission, not just up to it.
Meteorological datasets and modelling inputs for planning applications, environmental impact statements and works approvals.
Weather context for licence conditions, exceedance investigations and ongoing compliance reporting.
Wind and stability analysis that narrows down likely sources and timing, alongside our odour consultant and dust assessment teams.
Site-specific weather fields for open-cut operations, processing plants, and wind and solar developments.
Meteorology for facilities where emissions are highly weather-dependent and sensitive receptors sit close by.
Independent meteorological analysis and expert testimony for court, tribunal and mediation.
We clarify what must be proven and what the project needs to achieve.
Monitoring, sampling and modelling designed to be credible and efficient.
We interpret results, test assumptions and quantify uncertainty where needed.
Regulator-ready reporting, stakeholder clarity, and support through next steps.
I would recommend Air Environment for any matter involving the detailed analysis and interpretation of meteorological data and the development of atmospheric meteorological models.
Andrew and the team proved to be very flexible and responsive in accommodating changes and providing strategic and technical advice. I would highly recommend Air Environment and will certainly use them again.
Andrew’s reporting and evidence provided to the court was thorough, clear, compelling and to the point and resulted in the client achieving a successful outcome.
A short overview of our services, the models we run, our laboratory capability and the project experience behind them. Useful if you are building a shortlist or need something to circulate internally.
Meteorology rarely stands alone. Most projects pair it with monitoring, modelling or assessment work, and our air quality consultants can carry the whole scope with one team.
Common questions about meteorological monitoring, modelling datasets, model selection, and how we support approvals, compliance and investigations.
We supply site-specific datasets ready for CALPUFF, AERMOD, CALMET and AERMET workflows, generated from prognostic weather models, station observations and reanalysis products. Every dataset ships with documented sources, periods, processing steps and limitations, so the inputs can be reviewed alongside the model results.
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons projects come to us. We run TAPM or WRF to generate high-resolution, three dimensional wind, temperature and stability fields for your exact location, then validate the output against the nearest credible observations to confirm it behaves sensibly.
AERMOD is a steady state Gaussian plume model. It treats conditions as uniform across the domain within each hour, which suits simpler terrain and shorter transport distances. CALPUFF is a non steady state puff model that tracks pollutant puffs through a varying three dimensional wind field, so it handles complex terrain, coastal recirculation, calm and light wind conditions, and longer transport distances more realistically. CALPUFF costs more to set up and run. The right choice depends on your terrain, your sources and the guideline that applies in your jurisdiction.
Sometimes, and it depends on what the station actually measures. Bureau stations are sited for weather forecasting rather than dispersion modelling, so a nearby station may not represent conditions at your site, and often will not include the upper air or stability information a model needs. We assess representativeness first, then either process the observations, supplement them, or generate a modelled dataset instead.
It depends on the jurisdiction, the guideline being applied and the risk profile of the project. Regulators commonly look for at least one full year of representative data, and multiple years where inter-annual variability matters. We confirm the requirement against the relevant guideline before scoping, so you are neither paying for data you do not need nor short of what a reviewer will ask for.
Both. Our air quality monitoring consultants design, install and maintain meteorological and ambient air monitoring programs, then process the results into modelling-ready inputs. Pairing measurement with modelling is usually the strongest position when a dataset is likely to be challenged.
Defensible work is transparent and review-ready. We document assumptions, use fit-for-purpose methods, apply quality checks and statistical model performance evaluation, and present conclusions clearly so regulators and stakeholders can follow how we reached them.
Yes. We support approvals and licensing with ambient air and meteorological monitoring, source emission sampling, emission inventory development, atmospheric modelling, impact assessments, management plans and clear reporting aligned to decision-maker expectations.
Yes. We deliver air consulting services across Australia, including regional and remote sites, and have supported international projects for clients across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and North and South America.
Yes, where appropriate. We provide independent technical review and clear written opinions for high-scrutiny contexts. All of our senior consultants have experience giving expert testimony in court, tribunal and mediation settings.