Wind tunnel dispersion modelling some recent and not so recent achievements

A selection of illustrative examples is used in reviewing wind tunnel and water tank modelling of atmospheric dispersion, the aim being to discuss cases where the laboratory work has been a key factor in developing scientific understanding and instigating further research. The areas included are: basic dispersion processes, plume rise, buildings effects, urban areas, dense gas dispersion, concentration fluctuations, complex terrain and convective boundary layers. The changing role of laboratory simulations in the face of the continuing advances in computational methods is also discussed.