NAME: Luara de Oliveira BRAZIL SCHOOL: Federal University of Tocantins

IIE NUMBER: 15406292 U.S SCHOOL: Enter U.S School Name

HW-3 Problems on Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (Due: 06/10/2015)

Date: 6/9/2015

Purpose: This exercise will allow you to appreciate the use of Gaussian Dispersion equation to compute
ambient concentration because of emissions from a point source. By doing these exercise problems, you will
understand:

 Pasquill’s Stability Classes and how to read them based on wind speed, time of the day or cloud cover if
its night time
 Sigma-Y and Sigma-Z and how to read them which are functions of downwind distance and the stability
class
 Computing wind speed at physical stack height for use in the Gaussian equation
 Effect of down-wind distance
 Effect of cross-wind distance
 Effect of stability class
 Several other concepts

Problems to be solved from the Handout 3 (Chapter 20 of Cooper and Alley Textbook)

20.1 For an emission rate of 200g/s, an effective stack height of 80 m Class C stability, and a wind speed at stack
height of 8 m/s, calculate the ground level concentration of a nonreactive pollutant: a) 1000 m directly
downwind; and b) 5000 m directly downwind.

𝑄 = 200g/sec
𝐻 = 80 𝑚
𝜇 = 8 𝑔/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐶

a) x = 1000 m
𝜎𝑦 = 104(1)0.894 = 104 𝑚
𝜎𝑧 = 61(1)0.911 = 61 𝑚

200(10)6 (80)2 (80)2

𝐶= {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 530 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(8)(104)(61) 2(61)2 2(61)2
b) x = 5000 m
𝜎𝑦 = 104(5)0.894 = 438 𝑚
𝜎𝑧 = 61(5)0.911 = 264 𝑚

200(10)6 (80)2 (80)2

𝐶= {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 65.7 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(8)(438)(264) 2(264)2 2(264)2
20.2 Name and briefly discuss the two major factors or influences that result in the formation of atmospheric
eddies. Which one predominates in Class A type atmospheric stability?

Eddies are macroscopic random fluctuations from the “average” flow. Eddies in the atmosphere result from
both thermal and mechanical influences. The energy from the sun is absorbed by the ground and converted to
heat, after that this energy is transferred to the lowest levels of the air by conduction/convection, resulting
(creating) thermal eddies and rising the air near to the surface. As more stronger is the solar insolation, more
eddies are formed. Different from thermal eddies, mechanical eddies are consequence of the shear forces
produced when air blows across a rough surface. Rough surfaces creates more eddies than smooth surfaces, and
strong wind produces more eddies also. Based of the fact that the class A of stability is predominant in incoming
solar radiation between strong and moderate, and the surface wind speed is small (0-3 m/s) the major factor
that influences the Class A is the thermal.

20.3 On a clear night with a surface wind speed of 2 m/s, 50 g/s of a nonreactive pollutant is released at ground
level (H=0). Calculate the ground level concentration: a) 500 m directly downwind, and b) 1000 m directly
downwind.

µ = 2m/sec H=0 C = 50g/sec

a) x = 500 m
Stability F
𝜎𝑦 = 34(0.5)0.894 = 18.3 𝑚
𝜎𝑧 = 14.35(0.5)0.740 − 0.35 = 8.2 𝑚

50(10)6
𝐶= = 53030 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(18.3)(8.2)

b) x = 1000 m
𝜎𝑦 = 34 𝑚
𝜎𝑧 = 14 𝑚

50(10)6
𝐶= = 16718 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(34)(14)

20.4 At noon on a sunny summer day with a surface wind speed of 4 m/s, SO2 is released over rough terrain
from a 90 m stack at a rate of 400 g/s. Assume that the plume rise is 60 m. Calculate the ground level
concentration: a) 3000 m downwind; b) 3000 m downwind and 100 m crosswind; and c) 3000 m downwind and
500 m crosswind.

µ = 4m/s
Rough Terrain = 90 m 𝐻 = 90 + 60 = 150
𝜌 = 0.15
Q = 400 g/sec
Δℎ = 60 𝑚
a) x = 3000 m
400(10)6 (150)2 (150)2
𝐶= {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 103.64 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(4)(550)(400) 2(400)2 2(400)2

b) x = 3000 m; y = 100 m
400(10)6 (100)2 (150)2 (150)2
𝐶= exp (− ) {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 131.86 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(4)(550)(400) 2(550)2 2(400)2 2(400)2
c) x = 3000 m; y = 500 m
400(10)6 (500)2 (150)2 (150)2
𝐶= exp (− ) {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 89.01 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(4)(550)(400) 2(550)2 2(400)2 2(400)2

20.5 The plan and profile views of a pollution source and surroundings are given below. For emissions rate of
165g/s, Class D stability, rough terrain, and a wind speed of 7 m/s (at 10 m), calculate the ground level
concentration at a receptor (A) that is 2002 m away from the source but not directly downwind (see diagrams).
Assume plume rise is 50 m.

100 0.25
Q = 165 g/sec µ = 7 ( 10 ) = 12.45 𝑚/𝑠

𝜌 = 0.25

µ10 = 7𝑚/𝑠

𝜎𝑦 = 190 𝑚
𝜎𝑧 = 55 𝑚

165(10)6 (89.46)2 (150)2 (150)2

𝐶= 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (− ) {(exp − ) + (exp − )} = 2.57 µ𝑔/𝑚3
2𝜋(12.45)(190)(55) 2(55)2 2(55)2 2(55)2