How do I simulate a dust bowl?

Open this page and use the live Wildfire Response Planner tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a dust bowl from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Wildfire Response Planner

Wildfire Response Planner for a dust bowl

Simulate a dust bowl live in your browser. This runs the real Wildfire Response Planner solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Fire Spread

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Wildfire / Fire SpreadLive

wind + slope driven spread

Controls

Speed1×

Presets

Wind speed

Wind direction

Slope

Fuel density

Fire spreads cell to cell, biased downwind and uphill — the two dominant drivers of real wildfire rate-of-spread. Rotate the wind and raise the slope to see how a fire front elongates and races upslope. For training and situational awareness only.

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Data Inspector

Cells burned0

Wind15 @ 90°

Slope10°

Governing equation

R = R_{0} (1 + ϕ_{w} + ϕ_{s}), ϕ_{w} = 0.60, ϕ_{s} = 0.22

Reading this result: Moderate wind and slope: the fire spreads roughly outward, with a gentle bias downwind and uphill.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

↓

Hazmat Plume

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Hazmat Plume DispersionLive

Gaussian plume · protective action

Controls

Presets

Release rate (g/s)

Wind speed (m/s)

Action level (mg/m³)

A Gaussian plume estimates how a gas or vapor release disperses downwind. Stability class (A unstable to F stable) sets how fast the plume spreads. The dashed line is the protective action distance where concentration falls below your action level. Screening estimate only — use ERG and monitors on scene.

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Data Inspector

Protective distance>20 km

StabilityD neutral

Wind4 m/s

Governing equation

C (x, y) = \frac{50}{2 π 4 σ _{y} σ _{z}} exp (- \frac{y ^{2}}{2 σ _{y}^{2}})

Reading this result: Concentration falls off as the wind stretches and vertical mixing thins the plume — stronger wind and less stable air pull the protective distance in toward the source.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Evacuation

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Building Evacuation / EgressLive

crowd flow through exits

Controls

Presets

Occupants

Exits

Walk speed

Speed1×

Occupants head for the nearest exit while pushing apart in crowds, so bottlenecks and congestion form at doorways — the effect that drives real egress times. Add or remove exits to see how total clearance time responds. Planning aid only.

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Data Inspector

Evacuated0 / 150

Clear time0.0 s

Exits2

Social-force velocity

v = 1.3 \overset{e}{^}_{exit} + 2.2 j \sum f_{ij}, \frac{N}{exits} = \frac{150}{2} = 75

Reading this result: Around 75 per exit — congestion starts to build at the doors, and adding an exit usually helps more than speeding people up.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

↓

Radio Range

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Radio Range / Link BudgetLive

VHF/UHF horizon + path loss

Estimated usable range

9.7mi

Controls

Presets

Base antenna (ft)

Portable height (ft)

Power (W)

Frequency (MHz)

Rx sensitivity (dBm)

Combines the radio horizon (1.23·(√h₁+√h₂), feet→miles) with a free-space link budget (EIRP minus path loss vs receiver sensitivity). Actual range depends on terrain, foliage, and buildings — treat this as a best-case planning estimate.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Radio horizon9.7 mi

Link budget147 dB

Limited byline-of-sight

Governing equation

FSPL = 20 lo g_{10} (\frac{4 π d}{λ}) = 147 dB (d = 9.7 mi, f = 155 MHz)

Reading this result: Range is capped by the horizon at 9.7 mi — raising the base antenna helps more than adding power here.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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About this simulation

The full Wildfire Response Planner tool models a dust bowl with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a dust bowl?: Open this page and use the live Wildfire Response Planner tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a dust bowl from your own measurements.