NUSSE-4.

TYPE:

Analysis.

DATE CATALOG RECORD WAS LAST UPDATED:

4 April 1996.

PROPONENT AGENCY:

Commander, U.S. Army Edgewood Research, Development, and Engineering Center, ATTN: SMCRD-RTM, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5423.

Point Of Contact:

Ron Pennsyle, DSN 584-3504, COM 410/671-3504.

SUMMARY:

The 1988 validation effort on NUSSE3 revealed problems with predicted vapor quantities. When corrections and added capabilities were made, the model became NUSSE4. NUSSE3 is no longer supported. NUSSE3 (ATM) is supported, but used only to predict the location of the liquid deposited on the ground from high-altitude release. NUSSE4 is recommended for all other applications.

PURPOSE:

The NUSSE4 model may be used to describe the liquid hazards from the release of a chemical munition. Predictions for releases at altitudes up to 30 kilometers are mathematically formulated based on the Gaussian transport and diffusion equations. The model tracks the chemical agent from the time of release to its ground impact. NUSSE4 methodology consists of describing the chemical cloud immediately after release, following the cloud to ground impact by determining the droplet transport by wind, evaporation, and transport and diffusion of the primary vapor. Ground contamination and lethal footprints are then calculated. The current version includes multicomponent agent mixtures, high-altitude release, continuous release, improved implementation of drop-size dependent cloud growth, incorporates a treatment of extended line sources ( > 1 km ), improved and increased I/O features, options for compatibility with PARACOMPT and TECH casualty assessment models, and interfaces with graphics software packages.

Types Of Uses:

Intended Uses:

NUSSE4 is intended to be used as a predictor of the performance of a single liquid-filled chemical munition and its ability to create a hazardous environment.

MODEL DESCRIPTION:

Domain:

Air and ground release.

Span:

Local. May require actual weather data; Central Europe is available.

Mission Areas Represented:

N/A.

Level Of Detail Of Processes And Entities:

N/A.

Limitations:

Evaporation of deposited liquid from surface currently restrcted to grass. Meteorology above Surface Boundary Layer is hypothetical. Means of estimating cloud growth rate there not available. Model assumes time-invariant wind, temperature, and stability conditions, while varying with altitude.

MODEL CONSTRUCTION:

Human Participation:

Required to set up input file, then not permitted. The model is not interruptable.

Time Processing:

Dynamic, time-step.

Treatment Of Randomness:

N/A.

Sidedness:

N/A.

Compliance With Standards For Interoperability:

N/A.

Typical Ratio Of Run Time To Modeled Time:

Run time is a function of user-specified conditions and output options.

INPUT:

Includes munition data such as munition type, height of release, and type and quantity of agent. Meteorological information is estimated for NUSSE4. High releases may use actual weather data for the region of interest including wind speed and direction, temperature, and pressure.

Preprocessors/Scenario Development Aids:

Time To Prepare Databases/Scenarios:

N/A.

Available Databases/Scenarios:

OUTPUT:

Primary output quantities are vapor concentration, vapor dosage, and liquid deposition, which may be reported as grid values, peak values downwind, or area-coverage tables. Output may be printed or stored as a data file in a user-selected format.

Graphics:

None, but data can be output in post-processor format.

Available Postprocessors:

Time To Analyze:

OTHER MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL:

PARACOMPT.

HARDWARE:

Computer System:

Model has been run on Silicon Graphics Iris, Sun Sparcstation, CRAY, Intel 486-based PC with 32 mb RAM, VAX-11/780, VAX/8600, and MicroVAX-II machines.

RAM/Disk Storage:

For PC or Cray, RAM needed is 20 mb, as is disk storage. For VMS machines, 1 mb disk storage, 20 mb RAM or less.

Peripherals/Special Hardware Requirements:

Network Requirements:

SOFTWARE:

FORTRAN 77.

Special System Requirements/Libraries:

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTATION:

Executive Summary:

Pennsyle, Ronald O., NUSSE4: Improvements and Extensions of the NUSSE3 Model, CRDEC-TR-325, U.S. Army Chemical Research Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5423, April 1992.

User Manual:

Same as above.

Programmer Manual:

None.

Others:

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

Unclassified.

Source Code:

Data:

Documentation:

Published manual.

MODEL USERS:

ERDEC, ARL, EAI Corp., Kaman Sciences Corp. Has also been given to Canada, France, NATO, and Israel.

MODEL HISTORY AND RELEASE INFORMATION:

Date First Implemented:

NUSSE - August 1980.

Date Of Current Release:

4 June 1993.

Current Version Number:

Availability To Other Army Agencies:

Upon request.

PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS:

Extend data base for surface evaporation to other surfaces. Further improve vapor grid scheme.

VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION(1):

Verification Proponent(s):

ERDEC.

Validation Proponent(s):

ERDEC.

Configuration Management Proponent(s):

ERDEC.

Description(s) Of V&V Performed:

Verification during Operation Desert Storm/Shield by using NUSSE4 to address issues raised in the absence of an alternative model. Validation performed by comparison with some 275 field trials.

V&V Document(s):

See report, CRDEC-TR-325, described above.

ACCREDITATION(1):

Date Of Accreditation:

Accrediting Agency:

Type(s) Of Use(s) For Which Accredited:

Study or Studies For Which Accreditation Applies:

Limitations Of Accreditation:

Accreditation Documents:

COMMENTS:

While the documentation may be sub-standard, NUSSE4 is the latest in a series of model advances to address issues of chemical warfare hazards of interest to defensive systems analysts and developers.

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