Degree of Dust Dispersion in the Atmosphere under the Influence of Microclimatic, Topographical and Technical Factors

Abstract

The process of dispersion of a component in a given medium such as air is determined by three groups of factors: microclimatic, topographical and technical. The shape of the emitted pollutant plume depends on the parameters of the emitter and the volume of the air masses. This article describes five types of plume: looping, conical, ventilating, tracing and contaminating. Vertical air stability is an important physical parameter of the atmosphere. Three states of this parameter are described in this paper: inversion, convection and isotherm. The degree of pollutant dispersion is influenced by air temperature, shaping physical and chemical processes that include coagulation, sorption and diffusion. Topographical factors include landform type, land cover and development. A significant number of obstacles interfere with the free flow of air through a given area. Technical factors relate to the emitter parameters (altitude, diameter) and the nature of its operation (time, temperature, speed of pollutants at discharge). Emissions can come from a large point-source emitter or from multiple diffuse emitters. Meteorological factors were found to have a decisive influence, as climatic parameters are subject to the greatest changes due to atmospheric turbulence, vertical temperature gradient, wind effect and precipitation.