Air pollutant emission Outline of air pollution dispersion

air pollution emission source



types of air pollutant emission sources – named characteristics

sources, shape – there 4 basic shapes emission source may have. are:

point source — single, identifiable source of air pollutant emissions (for example, emissions combustion furnace flue gas stack). point sources characterized being either elevated or @ ground-level. point source has no geometric dimensions.
line source — one-dimensional source of air pollutant emissions (for example, emissions vehicular traffic on roadway).
area source — two-dimensional source of diffuse air pollutant emissions (for example, emissions forest fire, landfill or evaporated vapors large spill of volatile liquid).
volume source — three-dimensional source of diffuse air pollutant emissions. essentially, area source third (height) dimension (for example, fugitive gaseous emissions piping flanges, valves , other equipment @ various heights within industrial facilities such oil refineries , petrochemical plants). example emissions automobile paint shop multiple roof vents or multiple open windows.


sources, motion

stationary source – flue gas stacks examples of stationary sources
mobile source – buses examples of mobile sources


sources, urbanization level – whether source within city or not relevant in urban areas constitute so-called heat island , heat rising urban area causes atmosphere above urban area more turbulent atmosphere above rural area

urban source – emission in urban area
rural source – emission in rural area


sources, elevation

surface or ground-level source
near surface source
elevated source


sources, duration

puff or intermittent source – short term sources (for example, many accidental emission releases short term puffs)
continuous source – long term source (for example, flue gas stack emissions continuous)