Air Dispersion Modeling and Meteorology Input Files
Air dispersion modeling is the practice of using mathematical equations to characterize atmospheric conditions and address how pollutants emitted by a source disperse. Dispersion models require detailed inputs to produce meaningful predictions. Modeled predictions provide useful information in making decisions for permits, state implementation plans, and even air monitor siting.
Meteorological data are required to perform refined modeling. The Division provides surface meteorological data (using ADJ_U*) from eleven ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) airports that record winds at 1-minute intervals. Surface data files are combined with upper air data from Wilmington, Nashville, Lincoln, and/or Roanoke upper air stations. The table at the bottom of this page contains zipped files of the processed meteorological data for years 2021-2025 organized by regions as shown on the maps. Maps on this page are for informational purposes only and are subject to revision or correction at any time.
Surface Meteorological Data Regions Map
The recommended Kentucky surface air station representativeness regions were determined by the Division using a review of multiple factors, including regional terrain influences, station elevation, surface/land use characteristics, distance, station siting/location, data quality, and wind direction/speed patterns from intermediary weather stations operated by the Kentucky Mesonet. The elevation of each meteorological station is listed on the map in meters (m).
Note: These recommendations are not final and the most representative dataset should always be used with proper justification based on guidance from 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix W. Projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 16N. Revised 11/2026 Kyle Ruhl – Kentucky Division for Air Quality.
The recommended airport-county pairings are also listed below:
- Paducah Airport (120 m): Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken, Graves, Marshall, Livingston, and Crittenden Counties
- Clarksville Airport (262 m): Calloway, Trigg, Lyon, Caldwell, Hopkins, Christian, Todd, and Muhlenberg Counties
- Evansville Airport (123 m): Union, Webster, Henderson, Daviess, McLean, Ohio, and Hancock Counties
- Bowling Green Airport (159 m): Logan, Simpson, Warren, Butler, Grayson, Edmonson, Barren, Allen, Monroe, Metcalfe, Green, Larue, and Taylor Counties
- Louisville Airports (SDF: 146m, LOU 165 m): Breckinridge, Meade, Hardin, Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham, Tribmle, Carroll, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, and Nelson Counties
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (262 m): Gallatin, Boone, Grant, Owen, Kenton, Campbell, Pendelton, and Bracken Counties
- Lexington Airport (299 m): Marion, Washington, Mercer, Boyle, Woodford, Franklin, Anderson, Jessamine, Garrard, Scott, Fayette, Madison, Harrison, Bourbon, Clark, Estill, Powell, Montgomery, Bath, Rowan, Nicholas, Robertson, Gleming, and Mason Counties
- Huntington Tri-State Airport (251 m): Lewis, Greenup, Carter, Boyd, Elliot, Lawrence, Johnson, and Martin Counties
- Jackson Airport (413 m): Menifee, Morgan, Wolfe, Magoffin, Lee, Owsley, Breathitt, Floyd, Pike, Knott, Perry, Leslie, Letcher, and Harlan Counties
- London Airport (360 m): Adair, Cumberland, Casey, Lincoln, Russell, Clinton, Wayne, Pulaski, Laurel, Jackson, Clay, McCreary, Whitley, Knox, and Bell Counties
Upper Air Meteorological Data Regions Map
The recommended Kentucky upper air station parings are assigned by the Division based on distance and direction to the upper air balloon release stations. Upper air data is collected daily and provided by the National Weather Service.
Note: These recommendations are not final and the most representative dataset should always be used with proper justification based on guidance from 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix W. Projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 16N. Revised 11/2026 Kyle Ruhl – Kentucky Division for Air Quality.
The recommended upper air station-county pairings are also listed below:
- Nashville, TN Upper Air: Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken, Graves, Livingston, Marshall, Calloway, Crittenden, Caldwell, Lyon, Trigg, Union, Henderson, Webster, Hopkins, Christian, Daviess, McLean, Muhlenberg, Todd, Hancock, Ohio, Butler, Logan, Meade, Breckinridge, Grayson, Edmonson, Butler, Warren, Logan, Simpson, Allen, Monroe, Barren, Metcalfe, Green, Taylor, Hart, Larue, Hardin, Bullit, Nelson, Washington, Marion, Boyle, Casey, Adair, Cumberland, Clinton, Russell, Wayne, Pulaski, Lincoln, Rockcastle, McCreary, Whitley, Knox, Clay, Jackson, and Laurel Counties.
- Wilmington, OH Upper Air: Jefferson, Oldham, Trimble, Carrol, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, Gallatin, Owen, Franklin, Anderson, Mercer, Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Grant, Pendleton, Bracken, Scott, Harrison, Robertson, Mason, Lewis, Greenup, Woodford, Fayette, Bourbon, Nicholas, Fleming, Rowan, Carter, Boyd, Lawrence, Elliot, Bath, Montgomery, Clark, Jessamine, Garrard, Madison, Boyle, Marion, Washington, , Powell, Estill, Madison, Lee, Owsley, Breathitt, Magoffin, Johnson, Martin, Larence, Elliot, Wolfe, Menifee, and Morgan Counties.
- Roanoke/Blacksburg, VA Upper Air: Bell, Harlan, Leslie, Perry, Letcher, Knott, Floyd, and Pike Counties
Kentucky Elevation & Land Cover Maps
Statewide elevation and land use maps of Kentucky are provided to assist modelers in identifying representative meteorological stations. Airports with pre-processed data available are indicated by the circle airplane icons. The elevation listed is the meteorological station elevation (in meters).
Kentucky Elevation
Feature Data: USGS EROS Archive Digital Elevation Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 1 Arc-Second Global Tile Grid. Elevation displayed in meters. Selected elevations represent meteorological station elevations.
Kentucky Land Cover
Feature Data: 2021 National Land Cover Data provided by USGS. Land cover data aggregated to 2020 US Census Block level by majority land class characteristic per census-designated block. Projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 16N. Revised 3/2026 Kyle Ruhl – Kentucky Division for Air Quality.
Meteorological Data Files 2021-2025
Meteorological data files are available to download using the table below. Each airport zip file contains 5-year model-ready .SFC and .PFL files for relevant combinations of surface and upper air stations in the state. The Kentucky Division for Air Quality updates these files annually using the latest available meteorological data and the most current version of AERMET.
Data Advisory (10/29/2026): Due to recent changes in the federal ASOS meteorological program, data quality at multiple Kentucky ASOS sites was negatively impacted in 2025 by site outages and missing data files.
- The Frankfort, KY (FFT) site has been discontinued due to power supply issues to the site after a lightning strike, and the Division no longer recommends its use. The Frankfort site is also scheduled to be downgraded from an ASOS to an AWOS-C site due to a 2025 federal budgetary decision by the FAA. Modeling that previously used the Frankfort site should consider using Lexington or Louisville as alternatives.
- The Paducah, KY (PAH) and Jackson, KY (JKL) sites do not currently meet data completeness requirements as the combined percentage of missing data and calm wind hours exceeds 10% due to poor data quality in 2025. For the Paducah region, the Division recommends considering alternative sites such as Clarksville (CKV), Cape Girardeau (CGI), or Evansville (EVV). For the Jackson/Southern Appalachia region, the Division recommends considering alternative sites such as London (LOZ), Lexington (LEX), or Huntington Tri-State (HTS). See the data advisories text files in each zip folder for more information.