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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Summary of research progress, 1 January 1976--1 January 1977. [Pollutant transport and diffusion over mountain-valley terrains]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7309796
A study was made of meteorological and topographical effects on the transport and dispersion of pollutants in valleys and over mountain terrains. The study is useful in determining the optimum site selections for power and industrial plants in mountain-valley terrains. Results are reported from a one-year field study on turbulent motion and diffusion in the planetary boundary layer in which constant-volume balloons were tracked by radar. The study was made in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It was found that the north-south orientation of the valley and the mountain ranges produced a channeling effect on the mean flow and that the mountain ranges enhance turbulent motion but impose a constraint on particle movement near the mountains. Three numerical models for turbulent diffusion in a logarithmic wind profile in the surface boundary layer were used to determine the effects of wind shear on the dispersion of air pollutants. It was concluded that when numerically modelling an air pollution situation in the surface turbulent boundary layer the effects of the velocity shear of the logarithmic wind profile must be considered. (CH)
Research Organization:
Utah Univ., Salt Lake City (USA). Dept. of Meteorology
OSTI ID:
7309796
Report Number(s):
COO-2455-15
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English