Air pollution emission plumes Outline of air pollution dispersion

visualization of buoyant gaussian air pollutant dispersion plume

air pollution emission plume – flow of pollutant in form of vapor or smoke released air. plumes of considerable importance in atmospheric dispersion modelling of air pollution. there 3 primary types of air pollution emission plumes:

buoyant plumes — plumes lighter air because @ higher temperature , lower density ambient air surrounds them, or because @ same temperature ambient air have lower molecular weight , hence lower density ambient air. example, emissions flue gas stacks of industrial furnaces buoyant because considerably warmer , less dense ambient air. example, emission plume of methane gas @ ambient air temperatures buoyant because methane has lower molecular weight ambient air.
dense gas plumes — plumes heavier air because have higher density surrounding ambient air. plume may have higher density air because has higher molecular weight air (for example, plume of carbon dioxide). plume may have higher density air if plume @ lower temperature air. example, plume of evaporated gaseous methane accidental release of liquefied natural gas (lng) may cold -161 °c.
passive or neutral plumes — plumes neither lighter or heavier air.