PNNL

Julia Flaherty is an environmental engineer and team leader in the Earth System Measurements and Data Group. Since joining Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2005, Flaherty has supported a wide range of applied atmospheric science efforts, including dispersion field campaigns, boundary layer meteorology data analyses, and ventilation-related studies of airborne transmission. She is known for bridging field measurements, computational modeling, and regulatory guidance to support high-impact national programs.

Flaherty is an expert in stack sampling in radiological facilities and has supported the Hanford Site, Idaho National Laboratory, and other sites with physical models, in-place testing, and data synthesis to evaluate stack sampling locations according to ANSI/HPS N13.1.

Flaherty also supports the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) through the Radiation Protection Computer Code Analysis and Maintenance Program (RAMP), with a focus on atmospheric dispersion and environmental assessments. Flaherty contributes technical expertise to the NRC’s Software Integration for Environmental Radiological Release Assessments (SIERRA), atmospheric dispersion module, and Radiological Assessment System for Consequences Analysis (RASCAL).

As a team leader since 2020, Flaherty fosters collaboration, staff growth, and a strong safety culture. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in environmental and civil engineering from Washington State University and is a member of the American Meteorological Society.

• Boundary layer meteorology and dispersion modeling
• Field measurements and field data analyses
• Emergency response to atmospheric releases
• Project management involving multiple collaborators

• Atmospheric science
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Air quality monitoring and tracer studies
• Regulatory compliance and environmental impact assessments
• Stack sampling system evaluation
• Team leadership and interdisciplinary coordination

• MS, environmental engineering, Washington State University
• BS, civil engineering, Washington State University

• American Meteorological Society
• Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Society
• Washington State Engineer in Training

2024

• Flaherty, J.E., and E.J. Antonio. 2024. Hanford Waste Treatment Plant LAB Facility Stack Effluent Monitoring. PNNL-31230 Rev 2. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
• Flaherty, J.E., E.J. Antonio, C. Burns, R.C. Daniel, and J. Yao. 2024. Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Low Activity Waste Facility Stack Effluent Monitoring: Sampling Probe Location Qualification Evaluation. PNNL-32694 Rev 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/2348926.

2023

• Suffield S.R., J.M. Barnett, and J.E. Flaherty. 2023. Assessment of the 3430 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location: Stack Verification Following Fan and Air Blender Additions. PNNL-35334. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/2221806.
• Flaherty, J.E., E.J. Antonio, C.A. Burns, R.C. Daniel, and J. Yao. 2023. Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Effluent Management Facility Stack Effluent Monitoring: Sampling Probe Location Qualification Evaluation. PNNL-32782, Rev 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

2022

• Pease L.F., N. Wang, G.R. Kulkarni, J.E. Flaherty, and C. Burns. 2022. “A Missing Layer in COVID-19 Studies: Transmission of Enveloped Viruses in Mucus-rich Droplets.” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 131. PNNL-SA-158853. doi:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2021.105746.
• Pease L.F., T. Salsbury, K.K. Anderson, R.M. Underhill, J.E. Flaherty, E. Vlachokostas, and C. Burns, et al. 2022. “Size Dependent Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 via Respiratory Droplets Spread through Central Ventilation Systems.” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 132. PNNL-SA-161825. doi:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2021.105748.
• Sheridan L.M., C. Phillips, A.C. Orrell, L.K. Berg, H. Tinnesand, R.K. Rai, and S. Zisman, et al. 2022. “Validation of Wind Resource and Energy Production Simulations for Small Wind Turbines in the United States.” Wind Energy Science 7, no. 2:659-676. PNNL-SA-166869. doi:10.5194/wes-7-659-2022.
• Vlachokostas E., C. Burns, T. Salsbury, R.C. Daniel, D.P. James, J.E. Flaherty, and N. Wang, et al. 2022. “Experimental Evaluation of Respiratory Droplet Spread to Rooms Connected by a Central Ventilation System.” Indoor Air 32, no. 1:Art. No. e12940. PNNL-SA-162537. doi:10.1111/ina.12940.

2021

• Gauglitz P.A., S.T. Arm, J.A. Bamberger, K.M. Denslow, W.C. Eaton, J.E. Flaherty, and M.S. Fountain, et al. 2021. “Vitrification and Pretreatment Using Double-Shell Tanks or Proposed New Tanks for Direct Feed High Level Waste: Technical Gaps and Approaches for Resolution.” PNNL-SA-167050. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. [Unpublished]
• Flaherty J.E., and E.J. Antonio. 2021. Hanford Waste Treatment Plant LAB Facility Stack Effluent Monitoring - Sampling Probe Location Qualification Evaluation. PNNL-31230. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hanford Waste Treatment Plant LAB Facility Stack Effluent Monitoring - Sampling Probe Location Qualification Evaluation
• Pease L.F., N. Wang, T. Salsbury, R.M. Underhill, J.E. Flaherty, E. Vlachokostas, and G.R. Kulkarni, et al. 2021. "Investigation of Potential Aerosol Transmission and Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 through Central Ventilation Systems Building and Environment." Building and Environment 197. PNNL-SA-156558. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107633

2020

• Flaherty J.E., J.P. Rishel, S.R. Suffield, and J.M. Barnett. 2020. Assessment of the 3420 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location: Stack Verification Following Fan and Air Blender Additions. PNNL-30747. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the 3420 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location: Stack Verification Following Fan and Air Blender Additions

2018

• Yu X., J.M. Barnett, B.G. Amidan, K.P. Recknagle, J.E. Flaherty, E.J. Antonio, and J.A. Glissmeyer. 2018. "Evaluation of Nitrous Oxide as a Substitute for Sulfur Hexafluoride to Reduce Global Warming Impacts of ANSI/HPS N13.1 Gaseous Uniformity Testing." Atmospheric Environment 176. PNNL-SA-128014. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.12.015

2016

• Flaherty J.E., and E.J. Antonio. 2016. Life Sciences Laboratory 2 Fan Exhaust Mixing Study. PNNL-25502. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Life Sciences Laboratory 2 Fan Exhaust Mixing Study
• Flaherty J.E., and E.J. Antonio. 2016. Physical Sciences Laboratory 1 Rooftop Stack Mixing Study. PNNL-25912. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Physical Sciences Laboratory 1 Rooftop Stack Mixing Study
• Flaherty J.E., and J.A. Glissmeyer. 2016. Stack Flow Rate Changes and the ANSI/N13.1-1999 Qualification Criteria - Application to the Hanford Canister Storage Building Stack. PNNL-25209. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Stack Flow Rate Changes and the ANSI/N13.1-1999 Qualification Criteria - Application to the Hanford Canister Storage Building Stack
• Flaherty J.E., J.M. Wilczak, C.W. King, W.J. Shaw, A.B. White, and T. Ayers. 2016. DOE's 449 MHz Wind Profiling Radars on the U.S. West Coast: Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2016. PNNL-25925. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. DOE's 449 MHz Wind Profiling Radars on the U.S. West Coast: Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2016
• Glissmeyer J.A., E.J. Antonio, and J.E. Flaherty. 2016. Assessment of the National Research Universal Reactor Proposed New Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999. PNNL-25117; RPT-STMON-010 Rev. 0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the National Research Universal Reactor Proposed New Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999

2015

• Flaherty J.E., and J.A. Glissmeyer. 2015. Tests of a High Temperature Sample Conditioner for the Waste Treatment Plant LV-S2, LV-S3, HV-S3A and HV-S3B Exhaust Systems. PNNL-23451 Final. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Tests of a High Temperature Sample Conditioner for the Waste Treatment Plant LV-S2, LV-S3, HV-S3A and HV-S3B Exhaust Systems
• Flaherty J.E., W.J. Shaw, V.R. Morris, J.M. Wilczak, A.B. White, T. Ayers, and J. Jordan, et al. 2015. Installation and Initial Operation of DOE's 449-MHz Wind Profiling Radars on the U.S. West Coast. PNNL-24866. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Installation and Initial Operation of DOE's 449-MHz Wind Profiling Radars on the U.S. West Coast
• Glissmeyer J.A., E.J. Antonio, and J.E. Flaherty. 2015. Assessment of the LV-C2 Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999. PNNL-24467; WTP-RPT-236, REV.0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the LV-C2 Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999

2014

• Glissmeyer J.A., E.J. Antonio, J.E. Flaherty, and B.G. Amidan. 2014. Assessment of the LV-S2 & LV-S3 Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999. PNNL-23386. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the LV-S2 & LV-S3 Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999
• Glissmeyer J.A., J.E. Flaherty, and M.S. Pekour. 2014. "Air Sample Conditioner Helps the Waste Treatment Plant Meet Emissions Standards." In WM Symposia (WM2014): 40 Years of Meeting Global Radioactive Waste Management Challenges, March 2-6, 2015, Phoenix, Arizona, Paper No. 14646. Tempe, Arizona:Waste Management Symposia. PNNL-SA-99376.
• Newsom R.K., L.K. Berg, M.S. Pekour, J.D. Fast, Q. Xu, P. Zhang, and Q. Yang, et al. 2014. "Evaluation of Single-Doppler Radar Wind Retrievals in Flat and Complex Terrain." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 53, no. 8:1920-1931. PNNL-SA-97861. doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0297.1

2013

• Deng L., S.A. McFarlane, and J.E. Flaherty. 2013. "Characteristics Associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation at Manus Island." Journal of Climate 26, no. 10:3342-3356. PNNL-SA-80320. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00312.1
• Glissmeyer J.A., J.E. Flaherty, and E.J. Antonio. 2013. Assessment of the Group 3-4 (HV-S1, HV-S2, IHLW-S1) Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999. PNNL-21998. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the Group 3-4 (HV-S1, HV-S2, IHLW-S1) Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999
• McFarlane S.A., C.N. Long, and J.E. Flaherty. 2013. "A Climatology of Surface Cloud Radiative Effects at the ARM Tropical Western Pacific Sites." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 52, no. 4:996-1013. PNNL-SA-89006. doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-12-0189.1

2011

• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2011. Measurement of the Tracer Gradient and Sampling System Bias of the Hot Fuel Examination Facility Stack Air Monitoring System. PNNL-20497. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Measurement of the Tracer Gradient and Sampling System Bias of the Hot Fuel Examination Facility Stack Air Monitoring System
• Glissmeyer J.A., J.E. Flaherty, and G.F. Piepel. 2011. Assessment of the Group 5-6 (LB C2, LB S2, LV S1) Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999. PNNL-20154. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the Group 5-6 (LB C2, LB S2, LV S1) Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999
• Mioduszewski J.R., X. Yu, V.R. Morris, C.M. Berkowitz, and J.E. Flaherty. 2011. "In-Situ Monitoring of Trace Gases in a Non-Urban Environment." Atmospheric Pollution Research 2, no. 1:89-98. PNNL-SA-62683. doi:10.5094/APR.2011.011

2010

• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2010. Assessment of the 3410 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location. PNNL-19562; RPT-STMON-005. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the 3410 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location
• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2010. Assessment of the 3420 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location. PNNL-19563; RPT-STMON-006. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the 3420 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location
• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2010. Assessment of the 3430 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location. PNNL-19262 Rev. 1; RPT-STMON-002, Rev. 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the 3430 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location
• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2010. Assessment of the Idaho National Laboratory Hot Fuel Examination Facility Stack Monitoring Site for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999. PNNL-19659. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the Idaho National Laboratory Hot Fuel Examination Facility Stack Monitoring Site for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999
• Glissmeyer J.A., and J.E. Flaherty. 2010. Assessment of the Proposed INTEC CPP 666 Stack Monitoring Site for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999. PNNL-19077; RPT-STMON-001. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Assessment of the Proposed INTEC CPP 666 Stack Monitoring Site for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1 1999

2008

• Hanna S.R., E. Baja, J.E. Flaherty, and K.J. Allwine. 2008. "USE OF TRACER DATA FROM THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 2005 FIELD EXPERIMENT TO TEST A SIMPLE URBAN DISPERSION MODEL." In 15th Joint Conference on the Applications of Air Pollution Meteorology with the Air & Waste Management Association, Paper No. 4.1. Boston, Massachusetts:American Meteorological Society. PNNL-SA-58750.

2007

• Allwine K.J., and J.E. Flaherty. 2007. Asian Tracer Experiment and Atmospheric Modeling (TEAM) Project: Draft Field Work Plan for the Asian Long-Range Tracer Experiment. PNNL-16774. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Asian Tracer Experiment and Atmospheric Modeling (TEAM) Project: Draft Field Work Plan for the Asian Long-Range Tracer Experiment
• Allwine K.J., and J.E. Flaherty. 2007. Urban Dispersion Program Overview and MID05 Field Study Summary. PNNL-16696. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Urban Dispersion Program Overview and MID05 Field Study Summary
• Allwine K.J., K.L. Clawson, J.E. Flaherty, J.H. Heiser, R.P. Hosker, M.J. Leach, and L.W. Stockham. 2007. "Urban Dispersion Program: Urban Measurements Applied to Emergency Response." In American Meteorological Society's Seventh Symposium on the Urban Environment, 10-13 September 2007, San Diego, CA. Boston, Massachusetts:American Meteorological Society. PNNL-SA-56902. Urban Dispersion Program: Urban Measurements Applied to Emergency Response
• Doran J.C., K.J. Allwine, J.E. Flaherty, K.L. Clawson, and R.G. Carter. 2007. "Characteristics of Puff Dispersion in an Urban Environment." Atmospheric Environment 41, no. 16:3440-3452. PNNL-SA-50920. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.12.029
• Flaherty J.E., B.K. Lamb, K.J. Allwine, and E.J. Allwine. 2007. "Vertical Tracer Concentration Profiles Measured During the Joint Urban 2003 Dispersion Study." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 46, no. 12:2019-2037. PNNL-SA-46442. doi:10.1175/2006JAMC1305.1
• Flaherty J.E., D.E. Stock, and B.K. Lamb. 2007. "Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations of Plume Dispersion in Urban Oklahoma City." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 46, no. 12:2110-2126. PNNL-SA-46440. doi:10.1175/2006JAMC1306.1
• Flaherty J.E., K.J. Allwine, M.J. Brown, W.J. Coirier, W.J. Coirier, S.C. Ericson, and O.R. Hansen, et al. 2007. "Evaluation study of building-resolved urban dispersion models." In 7th Symposium on the Urban Environment, 10-13 September 2007, San Diego, CA. Boston, Massachusetts:American Meteorological Society. PNNL-SA-56788. Evaluation study of building-resolved urban dispersion models

2006

• Allwine K.J., and J.E. Flaherty. 2006. Joint Urban 2003: Study Overview And Instrument Locations. PNNL-15967. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Joint Urban 2003: Study Overview And Instrument Locations
• Allwine K.J., and J.E. Flaherty. 2006. Urban Dispersion Program MSG05 Field Study: Summary of Tracer and Meteorological Measurements. PNNL-15969. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Urban Dispersion Program MSG05 Field Study: Summary of Tracer and Meteorological Measurements
• Sullivan T.M., J.H. Heiser, T. Watson, K.J. Allwine, and J.E. Flaherty. 2006. "Perfluorocarbon Gas Tracer Studies to Support Risk Assessment Modeling of Critical Infrastructure Subjected to Terrorist Attacks." In NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Computational Models of Risks to Infrastructure: NATO Science for Peace and Security Series - D: Information and Communication Security, edited by D. Skanata and D.M. Byrd, 13, 98-110. Amsterdam:IOS Press. PNNL-SA-49898.