AIR POLLUTION

METEOROLOGY
AND DISPERSION

S. PAL ARYA
Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences
North Carolina State University

New York
Oxford
Oxford University Press
1999

Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION TO AIR POLLUTION

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

The Air Pollution Problem 1

Sources of Air Pollution 3
Air Pollutants 4
Effects of Air Pollution 14
Regulatory Control of Air
Pollution 21
Problems and Exercises 24
2

DYNAMICS

42

3.1 Introduction 42
3.2 Macroscale Systems

42

MICROMETEOROLOCY AND PLANETARY

BOUNDARY LAYER

26

ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEMS AND POLLUTANT

TRANSPORT

51

77

4.1 Introduction and Definitions 77

4.2 Earth-Atmosphere Exchange
Processes 78
4.3 Vertical Distributions of Thermodynamic
Variables 80
4.4 Vertical Distribution of Winds in the
PBL 83
4.5 Turbulence 84
4.6 Gradient-transport Theories 89
4.7 Similarity Theories 91
4.8 Boundary-layer Parameterization for
Dispersion Applications 96
Problems and Exercises 103

ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE AND

2.1 Introduction 26
2.2 Composition and Thermal Structure of the
Atmosphere 26
2.3 State Variables and Thermodynamics 29
2.4 Atmospheric Stability 32
2.5 Conservation Laws and Atmospheric
Dynamics 33
2.6 Large-scale Inviscid Flows 35
2.7 Small-scale Viscous Flows 37
2.8 Applications 40
Problems and Exercises 40
3

3.3 Synoptic Weather Systems

3.4 Mesoscale Systems 59
3.5 Microscale Systems 69
Problems and Exercises 75

viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF ATMOSPHERIC

TURBULENCE

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7

105

Reynolds Averaging 105

Probability Functions 105
Autocorrelation Functions 108
Spectrum Functions 110
Taylor's Hypothesis 112
Statistical Theory of Turbulence 113
Observed Spectra and Scales 117

vi

5.8 Effects of Smoothing and Finite

Sampling 120
5.9 Lagrangian Description of Turbulence
5.10 Parameterization of Turbulence for
Diffusion Applications 124
Problems and Exercises 125
6

GRADIENT TRANSPORT THEORIES

CONTENTS

8.4 The Mixed-layer Similarity Theory 188

8.5 Experimental Verification of Similarity
Theories 192
8.6 Applications to Dispersion in the PBL 194
8.7 Limitations of Similarity Theories 195
Problems and Exercises 195

122

127

6.1 Eulerian Approach to Describing

Diffusion 127
6.2 Mass Conservation and Diffusion
Equations 128
6.3 Molecular Diffusion 131
6.4 Turbulent Diffusion 137
6.5 Constant K (Fickian DiffusionTheory 139
6.6 Variable K-Theory 143
6.7 Limitations of Gradient Transport
Theories 148
6.8 Experimental Verification of
K-Theories 150
6.9 Applications of K-Theories to
Atmospheric Dispersion 152
Problems and Exercises 152
7

STATISTICAL THEORIES OF DIFFUSION

155

7.1 Lagrangian Approach to Describing

Diffusion 155
7.2 Statistical Theory of Absolute
Diffusion 155
7.3 Plume Diffusion from Continuous
Sources 161
7.4 Statistical Theory of Relative
Diffusion 163
7.5 Puff Diffusion from Instantaneous
Releases 167
7.6 Fluctuating Plume Models 169
7.7 Experimental Verification of Statistical
Theories 170
7.8 Applications to Atmospheric Dispersion and
Limitations 175
Problems and Exercises 176
8

SIMILARITY THEORIES OF DISPERSION

178

8.1 Dispersion in Stratified Shear Flows 178

8.2 Lagrangian Similarity Theory for the
Neutral Surface Layer 180
8.3 Lagrangian Similarity Theory for the
Stratified Surface Layer 183

GAUSSIAN DIFFUSION MODELS

197

9.1 Basis and Justification for Gaussian

Models 197
9.2 Gaussian Plume and Puff Diffusion
Models 198
9.3 Diffusion Experiments 200
9.4 Empirical Dispersion Parameterization
Schemes 202
9.5 Further Improvements in Dispersion
Parameterization 207
9.6 The Maximum Ground-Level
Concentration 210
9.7 Model Evaluations and
Uncertainties 213
9.8 Limitations of Gaussian Diffusion
Models 216
9.9 Practical Applications of Gaussian
Diffusion Models 216
Problems and Exercises 218
10

PLUME RISE, SETTLING, AND

DEPOSITION

220

10.1 Momentum and Buoyancy Effects of

Release 220
10.2 Plume-rise Theory and
Observations 222
10.3 Gravitational Settling of Particles 226
10.4 Dry Deposition 228
10.5 Dispersion-Deposition Models 234
10.6 Applications 237
Problems and Exercises 237
11

NUMERICAL DISPERSION MODELS

239

11.1 Introduction 239

11.2 Short-range Gradient Transport
Models 239
11.3 Turbulence Kinetic Energy
Models 243
11.4 Higher Order Closure Models 245
11.5 Large-eddy Simulations 249
11.6 Lagrangian Stochastic Models 260
Problems and Exercises 267

vii
12

URBAN AND REGIONAL AIR QUALITY

MODELS

269

12.1 Introduction 269

12.2 Components of an Air Quality
Model 269
12.3 Urban Diffusion and Air Quality
Models 276

CONTENTS

12.4 Regional Air Quality Models 281

12.5 Applications of Air Quality Models
Problems and Exercises 286
REFERENCES
SYMBOLS
INDEX

305

287

300

285