Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Diffusion from Low-Level Urban Sources: Reexamination Using Recently Available Experimental Data

James L. McElroy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Print Publication:
01 Aug 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1997)036<1027:DFLLUS>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1027–1030
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Abstract

Experimental meteorological tracer data recently collected or declassified concerning dispersion from low-level sources in urban areas are examined in terms of the findings of the St. Louis Dispersion Study. The latter still provides a standard for use in urban air quality models and a basis of comparison for subsequent studies. Collectively, the results indicated that the quantitative findings of the St. Louis project are still valid. However, a tendency for the experimental data to be organized in terms of the local land use, especially nearer the tracer release points, provides evidence that it may be possible to catalog the resulting dispersion parameters in terms of land use and hence decrease the scatter of data points used to develop products such as stability related dispersion curves.

Corresponding author address: Dr. James L. McElroy, 82 Pheasant Run Drive, Sequim, WA 98382.

Abstract

Experimental meteorological tracer data recently collected or declassified concerning dispersion from low-level sources in urban areas are examined in terms of the findings of the St. Louis Dispersion Study. The latter still provides a standard for use in urban air quality models and a basis of comparison for subsequent studies. Collectively, the results indicated that the quantitative findings of the St. Louis project are still valid. However, a tendency for the experimental data to be organized in terms of the local land use, especially nearer the tracer release points, provides evidence that it may be possible to catalog the resulting dispersion parameters in terms of land use and hence decrease the scatter of data points used to develop products such as stability related dispersion curves.

Corresponding author address: Dr. James L. McElroy, 82 Pheasant Run Drive, Sequim, WA 98382.

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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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