Instrumentation, recording, and processing of meteorological data near Portage, Wisconsin: Wisconsin power plant impact study
As part of the Columbia Power Plant Impact Study meteorological data were collected at a network of monitoring sites from 1972 through 1977. The data were the basis for a series of studies whose purpose was to elucidate the transport of airborne pollutants and to assess the climatic impact of the power plant. In a pilot diffusion climatology survey, local wind structure was interpreted in the context of synoptic weather patterns. A significant new low wind statistic was introduced. A case study traced the movement of an elevated level of ozone from the Southern Plains across the Midwest to the East Coast. It showed that long distance transport is necessary for elevated O3 levels to occur in most parts of the U.S. The horizontal variation of the wind field is an important factor in the transport of atmospheric pollutants from 10 to 100 km. The wind field was shown to be organized as a function of wind direction and wind speed around the Baraboo Hills. Two models for estimating concentrations of SO2 at ground level were compared. Both used the Gaussian plume equation: one estimated the required dispersion coefficients from the Hino stability model; the other was based on data for horizontal and vertical hourly wind direction range. Overall, the climatic effects of the power plant and cooling pond appear small. Fogging, condensation, and riming may occur downwind on several days each year. Temperature increases of about 1C may also be observed for a short distance downwind.
- Research Organization:
- Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA). Dept. of Meteorology
- OSTI ID:
- 7019030
- Report Number(s):
- PB-84-172469
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Prepared in cooperation with Wisconsin Power and Light Co., Madison, Wisconsin Public Service Commission, Madison, and Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Madison
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OZONE
DIFFUSION
SULFUR DIOXIDE
AIR POLLUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METEOROLOGY
MONITORING
WISCONSIN
CHALCOGENIDES
FEDERAL REGION V
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
500500* - Environment
Atmospheric- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)