A meteorological-acoustical model: comparison with measurements

A meteorological-acoustical model for the prediction of long range sound propagation with meteorological effects has recently been presented [1]. This model was developed in the framework of the Dutch project ‘’Geluid in Beeld’’ (a View on Sound) and initiated by the Council of Westvoorne, The Port of Rotterdam, the environmental protection agency DCMR and the dry bulk terminal EMO located on the industrial site of the Maasvlakte/Europort in the port of Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Annoyance caused by the industrial noise from Maasvlakte/Europort has emerged in the nearby village of Oostvoorne. This motivated the creation of the project “Geluid in Beeld”, aiming at reducing or even preventing noise annoyance in Oostvoorne from the industrial activities. To achieve this, the scope of the project included the development of a coupled meteorologicalacoustical model for the prediction of long range sound propagation. The model has been used to get a better understanding of the sound propagation from the industrial site to Oostvoorne. The meteorological model provides meteorological prediction data over the area, which are then used in the acoustic model to calculate the characteristics of the sound field along the sound propagation path, using the Parabolic Equations method.