Effects of meteorology on plume dispersion:

Meteorology plays an important role in the dispersion of effluents. Various meteorological factors affect the dispersion of emission into the atmosphere in a variety of ways. One of the most important meteorological variables responsible for high ground level concentrations is the height of thermal boundary layer (or mixing height).

The following figure shows different situations of plume mixing in the atmosphere as a result of the development of the thermal boundary layer during a typical day. The figure shows that at 9 AM convective eddies pull the pollutant to the ground. The spread of the plume is also restricted in vertical due to the thermal boundary height at this time.

 

 For a small project on Plume Behavior and Dispersion go to

"http://gunsmoke.ecn.purdue.edu/~wenning/project/"