HW4

Air Quality MEM 6910 Andrs R. Gmez 1. Describe the three dominant mechanisms that disperse pollutants in the atmosphere. Which process is least effective in dispersing pollutants? Which process may be most effective in diluting a) local pollution and b) pollution on a regional scale? The three dominant mechanisms that disperse pollutants in the atmosphere are: A. Diffusion: Is the average motion of a molecule as a result of molecules collision. B. Convection: Is the vertical motion driven by buoyancy. The buoyancy is caused by solar heating of the surface and by the latent heat release resulting from condensation of moisture in the rising air column. C. Advection: Is referred to the horizontal motion of the atmosphere. Diffusion is the least effective process in dispersing pollutants. The most effective process in diluting local pollution is Convection. The most effective process in diluting pollution on a regional scale is Advection.

2. What is meant by the term temperature lapse rate? Flying in an airplane, you notice that as your altitude increases the temperature outside also increases. What is the atmospheric condition you are experiencing? Describe the corresponding temperature lapse rate. Temperature lapse rate is the rate at which the temperature lapses, or decreases, as the height increases above the ground. The atmospheric condition experienced when flying an airplane is the temperature inversion. When the temperature increases with altitude, the lapse rate is negative, that is, e < 0C/km

HW4
Air Quality MEM 6910 Andrs R. Gmez 3. Why is a temperature inversion inherently stable against vertical motions in the atmosphere? If a temperature inversion exists above the ground, the vertical motion of the air parcel will be strongly resisted when it reaches the inversion. A strong barrier against the vertical intermingling of air masses exists when a temperature inversion sits over a mixed layer. The air in a mixed layer cannot easily penetrate an overlying inversion. So, the lower atmosphere is capped and pollution emitted near the surface is trapped. 4. A) -13<10 Stable B) 7.8<10 Stable C) 10.1>10 Unstable D) 18>10 Unstable E) 46.6>10 Unstable F) -10<10 Stable

5. A) .5km B) 1km C) 13 D) 19 E) 6 F) .5km G) .5km