Air Pollution and Dispersion

Models
Lecture Outline
Introduction to Air Pollution
Air pollutants and their effects
Intensity of air pollution
Pollution dispersion models
Computer modeling in air pollution

Introduction to Air Pollution

Definition any atmospheric condition in which

substances are present at concentrations high

enough above their normal ambient levels to
produce a measurable effect on man, animals,
vegetation or materials
Fact 1
90% of the respirable particle mass in the earths
atmosphere is natural
Wind blown, sea spray
10% is anthropogenic
The 10% is more concentrated
Uneven distribution geographically
Combustion industrial, traffic and incineration
Anthropogenic particles in general are more harmful

Introduction to Air Pollution

Fact 2
Air pollution kills eight thousand people everyday
world wide, according to a recent international
Commonwealth Science Council conference
Estimates about 2.8 million people die each year
due to indoor pollution (over 500,000 in China
alone)
About 200,000 deaths are due to outdoor air
pollution
Chronic and acute effects

Introduction to Air Pollution

Air Pollutants and their effects

Human health effects
Impacts the economy and the environment
cause greater employee absenteeism as well as
increased medical expenses.
destruction of trees, plants and agricultural crops,
which can decrease property value and income.
Livestock and aquatic life are also affected

Deterioration of property

decays rubber, iron and nylon

it makes paint peel and discolor
it blocks natural sunlight
Acid rain corrosive to buildings

Effects of Ozone on Trees

Air Pollutants and their effects

Air Pollutants and their effects

Effects of Global Warming

Table 1 Major pollutants in our air

Pollutant

Sources

Health effects

Carbon
monoxide

Carbon monoxide is absorbed by the blood more

readily than oxygen, thus reducing the amount of
Car exhausts, burning of fossil fuels oxygen being carried through the body. It can
produce tiredness and headaches. People with heart
problems are particularly at risk.

Sulfur
dioxide

Coal and oil burning power stations,

Attacks the throat and lungs. People with breathing
mineral ore processing and
problems can suffer severe illness.
chemical manufacture.

Nitrogen
dioxide

Burning of fossil fuels

Affects the throat and lungs.

Ozone

Formed from nitrogen oxides and

hydrocarbons in sunny conditions.
These chemicals are released by
motor vehicles and industry.

Ozone attacks the tissue of the throat and lungs and

irritates the eyes.

Lead

Particles containing lead in the air can enter the

Exhaust gases from motor vehicles lungs. The lead can then be absorbed into the blood
which use leaded petrol, smelters. stream. Over a period lead can affect the nervous
system and the body's ability to produce blood.

Particles

Motor vehicles, burning of plant

materials, bushfires.

May cause breathing difficulties and worsen

respiratory diseases. Some particles contain cancerproducing materials.

Intensity of Air Pollution

2 important parameters
Rate at which pollutants are emitted
Dependent on size and function of city

Rate at which pollutants are dispersed and diluted

within the atmosphere dependent on weather,
height of chimney stacks, and topography
High temperatures -> increased buoyancy of gases
->increased dispersion
Valleys or basins sandwiched amongst hills ->
temperature inversion conditions

Intensity of Air Pollution

Weather elements
Wind direction and speed
Higher wind speeds -> increased dispersion
Pollution higher in leeward side compared with
windward sides

Vertical temperature profile which determines

the stability or otherwise of the air, and
therefore the resulting behaviour of the
pollution plume

Intensity of Air Pollution

6 geometrical forms of the pollution plume
1. Looping

Occurs under strong lapse conditions with

moderate to high wind velocities and large
convective mixing of air.
If stacks are low, looping can produce high
surface concentrations of pollutants

2. Conning

Occurs under weak lapse conditions

Intensity of Air Pollution

6 geometrical forms of the pollution plume
3. Fanning

Occurs under temperature inversion conditions

resulting particularly from terrestrial radiation on
clear, calm nights

4. Lofting

Occurs under conditions of shallow radiation

inversion near the ground surface and slight
unstable conditions aloft

Intensity of Air Pollution

6 geometrical forms of the pollution plume
5. Trapping
Associated with a subsidence inversion situation
in which there is a weak lapse near the ground
but inversion aloft.
Regarded as one of the worst pollution situations
6. Fumigation
Commonly occurs after sunrise when solar
heating produces an unstable layer which mixes
surface air with pollutants accumulated below
night inversion

Pollution Dispersion Models

See handout

Computer modeling
Energy and Climate in the Urban Built

Environment, Chapter 9
Visit EPA website
http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/modeling.ht
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