MODUL E

SYLLUBUS
 Th e degree to which air pollutants discharge from variou s sources
concentrate in a particular area depends largely on meteorological conditions

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 The important meterological parameters can be classified into :

a) primary parameters –
 wind direction and speed

 Temperature

 Atmospheric stability

 Mixing height

b) secondar y parameters –
 Precipitation

 Humidity

 Solar radiation etc

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a) Wind direction & speed :

 Th e direction and speed of su rface wind govern the drift & diffu sion of air

pollutants discharged near the ground level

 Higher the wind speed near the point of discharge, more rapidly the pollutants

are carried a w a y from the source

 The pollutants so dispersed will not exist in the same concentration but will

rapidly diluted with greater volume of air

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b)Atmospheric stability

Atmospheric stability varies with local heating, with wind speed, surface characteristics,
warm- and cold air advection, and many other factors.
An unstable atmosphere will enhance or encourage the vertical movement of air.
A stable atmosphere will suppress or resist vertical motion.
A neutral atmosphere will neither suppress nor enhance vertical motion.
c) Temperature
Warm air sits near the ground and the air can rise easily and carry away pollutants.
In a temperature inversion, cold air is trapped near the ground by a layer of warm
air. ... During a temperature inversion, smoke can't rise and carbon monoxide can
reach unhealthy levels.

c) Mixing height

 It is the height above the surface of earth to which the relative pollutants will

extend primarily through the action of atmospheric turbulence

 It is related to wind direction and speed, turbulence etc,.

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a) Precipitation

 Rainfall exerts a cleansing action on the pollutants discharged in the atmosphere

 It accelerates the deposition of particulate matter on the ground & hence it get

removed

 It also helps to remove the concentration of gaseous pollutants which are soluble in

water

 The washout of radioactive waste by the precipitation is also a matter of concern

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b) Humidity

 Moisture content of atmosphere influence the corrosive action of air pollutants

& also enables fog formation

c) Solar radiation

 Depending upon the location, solar radiation have a pronounced effect on the

type & rate of chemical reaction in the atmosphere

eg: photochemical smog