Time-dependent model of pollutant transport and diffusion in mountain valleys

Conference · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6344085

Whiteman, C D; Allwine, K J

A new valley air-pollution model has been developed to predict short-term concentrations of nonreactive pollutant species on the valley floor and sidewalls resulting from a continuous elevated source located within a valley. The model was developed for use when the effects of local heating and cooling dominate the valley meteorology and the influence of synoptic circulations is weak. The physical processes acting to disperse pollutants during the nighttime steady-state period and the period of post-sunrise temperature inversion breakup are parameterized in modules within the model. The primary physical processes included in the model are nocturnal down-valley transport and enhanced diffusion of pollutants, plume channeling, plume dilution due to clean air flowing in from valley tributaries, and plume reflection from valley floor and sidewalls. Physical processes in the post-sunrise simulation include down-valley plume transport in the elevated remnant of the nocturnal temperature inversion, pollutant fumigation into growing convective boundary layers, subsidence in the valley atmosphere, and transport and diffusion of pollutants in upslope flows. This paper describes the physical processes incorporated in the model along with their parameterizations.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6344085
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-10606; CONF-830307-17; ON: DE83010346
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POLLUTION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TIME DEPENDENCE
VALLEYS
VARIATIONS