Dispersion experiments using short-term releases of an atmospheric tracer

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5204544

Weber, A H; Kurzeja, R J

The Mesoscale Atmospheric Transport Studies (MATS) experiments were undertaken to provide a data base for determining the accuracy of mesoscale atmospheric dispersion model predictions for short term releases. This paper describes the MATS experiments and compares observed dispersion parameters with theory. The movement of the sulfur hexaflouride cloud has been compared with wind sensors placed at several different elevations. The observed sigma-y values are also compared with theory and found to agree well with Pasquill's (1976) method. The aim in the MATS experiments has been to achieve as many sceintific goals as possible while answering the fundamental question of model accuracy. The MATS experiments provide information on crosswind and downwind spread of material. The horizontal spread is obtained by a crosswind system of samplers and downwind spread can be determined by using several arcs. Unfortuantely, budget considerations restricted the sampling to a single arc at about 30km downwind from the release point. Despite this limitation, downwind dispersion results were obtained by collecting a sequence of continuous, relatively-short-time-samples as the plume moved downwind. It was assumed that the structure of the plume changed slowly as it moved across the sampling arc. 6 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5204544
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-85-40; CONF-851177-4; ON: DE85018519
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500101* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FIELD TESTS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLUMES
SAMPLING
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TESTING
TRACER TECHNIQUES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS