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Air - Pollution - Meteorology and Dispersion
Air - Pollution - Meteorology and Dispersion
METEOROLOGY AND
DISPERSION
ATMOSPHERIC ENGINE
The atmosphere is somewhat like an
engine. It is continually expanding and
compressing gases, exchanging heat,
and generally raising chaos.
The Coriolis effect (rotation of Earth),
coupled with the different heat
conductivities of the oceans and land
produce weather.
METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS
The degree to which air pollutants
discharged from various sources
concentrate in a particular area
depends largely on meteorological
conditions.
Types:
Primary parameters
secondary parameters
Primary Parameters
Cyclones
- Associated with foul weather
(tornados, hurricanes)
STABILITY OF THE ATMOSPHERE
As the air rises in the earths atmosphere, it
experiences lower and lower pressure from
the surrounding air molecules and thus
expands. This expansion lowers the
temperature of the air.
Ideally, a rising air cools at a rate of 1C/100
m and warms at a rate of 1C/100 m if it is
coming down.
The warming or cooling is termed the dry
adiabatic lapse rate
The adiabatic lapse rate is independent of
prevailing atmospheric temperatures
When there is moisture in the air, the lapse
rate becomes the wet adiabatic lapse
rate
1) Superadiabatic lapse rate strong lapse
rate
- Occurs when the atmospheric
temperature drops more than 1C/100 m
- Atmospheric conditions are unstable
- A great deal of vertical movement and
turbulence are produced, and dispersion
is enhanced.
2) Subadiabatic lapse rate weak lapse
rate
- Characterized by a drop of less than
1C/100 m, stable atmospheric condition
3) Inversion special case of a weak
lapse rate
- Extreme subadiabatic condition
- A condition that has warmer air
above colder air
- Stable atmospheric condition
4) Adiabatic
5) Inversion over superadiabatic
Mixing Height
Mixing Height height above the
earths surface to which related
pollutants will extend, primarily
through the action of atmospheric
turbulence.
Precipitation
Rainfall or precipitation exerts a two
fold cleansing action on pollutants
discharged into the atmosphere.
Accelerates deposition of particulate
matter on the ground
Decreases concentration of gaseous
pollutants that are soluble in water
Humidity
The moisture content of the
atmosphere influences the corrosive
action of air pollutants and indicates
the potential for fog formation.
Solar Radiation
Solar radiation have a pronounced
effect on the type and rate of
chemical reactions in the
atmosphere.
i.e. PAN formation, smog formation,
destruction of chlorine compounds
Methods for
Measurement of
Meteorological Variables
Wind Direction Recorder
Plume Behavior
Stack Height
PLUMES
PLUMES
- The smoke trail or plume from a stack
located on flat terrain exhibiting a
characteristic shape that is dependent
on the stability of the atmosphere
LOOPING PLUMES
FUMIGATION: It is a phenomenon in
which pollutants that are aloft in the
air are brought rapidly to ground
level when the air destabilizes.
TRAPPING PLUMES
H2 V.t
Cmax = maximum concentration of pollutants
A = coefficient, depends upon atmospheric conditions
F = coefficient, depends upon dust precipitation
efficiency, ranges from 0.8 to 0.95
M = quantity of flue gases, g/s
m = coefficient depends upon velocity of flue gases
H = height of stack or chimney in m
n = number of emitting sources
V = volume of gases leaving the chimney in m3/s
t = difference in temperature between flue gases and
atmospheric temperature at the top of the stack.
Stack Height
H = CQ0.27
Q = pollutant emission in tonnes per
hour
H = height of chimney in meters
C = constant, depends on type of
pollutant
C = 74, particulate matter
C = 14, SO2
Effects of Air Pollution on
Human Health
Nature of pollutants
Concentration of pollutants
Duration of exposure
State of health of receptor
Age of the receptor
Mechanism of Action
Contact with exposed membranous
surfaces is of utmost importance
because of their high absorptive
capacity compared to that of the skin.
Effects of Air Pollution on
Animals
In case of farm animals, the processes
by which farm animals get poisoned are:
1.Accumulation of air-borne contaminant
in the vegetation ad forage
2.Subsequent poisoning of animals when
they eat the contaminated vegetation.
Major Animal Toxins
Fluorine Toxicosis
Chronic fluorosis, lack of appetite, rapid loss of
weight, decline in health and vigor, lameness,
periodic diarrhea, muscular weakness and death
Arsenic Poisoning
Severe salivation, thirst, vomiting, uneasiness,
feeble, irregular pulse and respiration.
Lead Poisoning
Impotence, loss of appetite, paralysis, nervous
depression, lethargy, death
Effects of Air Pollution on
Plants
The primary factor which controls gas
absorption by the leaves is the degree
of opening of stomata which usually
happens at high light intensity
(especially in the morning), high
relative humidity, adequate moisture
on roots and moderate temperature.
Air Pollutants Affecting
Plants
Sulfur dioxide mercury
Fluoride PAN
Ozone hydrogen cyanide
Chlorine herbicides
Hydrogen chloride smog
Nitrogen oxide
Ammonia
Hydrogen sulfide
Forms of Damage to Leaves
Necrosis killing or collapse of tissue
Chlorosis loss or reduction of green
plant pigment, chlorophyll.
Abscission dropping of leaves
Epinasty downward curvature of
leaf due to higher rate of growth on
the upper surface
Injury to Leaves