Skip to main content
Log in

Overwater dispersion in coastal regions

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Air pollution sources such as oil platforms and ships are sometimes located near coastlines where the plumes can impact population centers. Models of overwater dispersion must account for the stability of the overwater boundary layer. An overwater dispersion model based on the standard Gaussian formula is described which uses measurements of the air-sea temperature difference, the wind speed, and the mixing depth to predict concentration patterns at the coastline. Internal boundary layers and complex terrain at the coastline are accounted for. This new model is evaluated using the results of three tracer experiments in United States coastal zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Briggs, G.A.: 1969, Plume Rise. USAEC Critical Review Series, TID-25075, Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information.

  • Briggs, G.A.: 1973, ‘Diffusion Estimates for Small Emissions’, ATDL Cont. 79, ATDL, P.O. Box E, Oak Ridge, TN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggs, G.A.: 1975, ‘Plume Rise Predictions’, Lectures on Air Pollution and Environmental Impact Analyses, American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA, pp 59–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Businger, J.A.: 1973, ‘Turbulence Transfer in the Atmospheric Surface Layer’, Workshop in Micrometeorology. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 45 Beacon St., Boston, MA 67–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughey, S.J.: 1982, ‘Observed Characteristics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer’. Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modeling. F.T.M. Nieuwstadt and H. Van Dop (eds.) Reidel Dordecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, J.W. and G.E. Willis: 1982, ‘Ground Level Concentrations Due to Fumigation into an Entraining Mixing Layer’ Atmos. Environ., 16, 1159–1170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, D.G.: 1981, ‘Judging Air Quality Model Performance: A Summary of the AMS Workshop on Dispersion Model Performance’ Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 61, 599–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gifford, F.A.: 1968, An Outline of Theories of Diffusion in the Lower Layers of the Atmosphere; In: Meteorology and Atomic Energy — 1968. D.H. Slade (ed.). USAEC Report TID-24190, pp 66–116.

  • Golder, D.: 1972, ‘Relations Among Stability Parameters in the Surface Layer’, Bound. Lay. Meteorol. 3, 47–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, S.R.: 1983, ‘A Simplified Scoring Scheme for Air Quality Models’ Paper 83–36.6 at Annual Air Pollution Control Association Meeting, available from APCA, Pittsburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, S.R., G.A. Briggs, J. Deardorff, B.A. Egan, F.A. Gifford, and F. Pasquill: 1977, ‘AMS Workshop on Stability Classification Schemes and Sigma Curves’, Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 58, 1305–1309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, S.R., R.J. Paine and L.L. Schulman: 1984, ‘Users Guide to the Offshore and Coastal Dispersion (OCD) Model’ prepared for the U.S. Department of the Interior by ERT, Inc., 696 Virginia Rd., Concord, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heffter, J.L.: 1965, ‘The Variation of Horizontal Diffusion Parameters with Time for Travel Periods of One Hour or Longer’ J. Appl. Meteorol., 4, 153–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, J.Z.: 1981, ‘Contributions of GARP to our Knowledge of Tropical Atmospheric Phenomena’, AAAS Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, 8 January.

  • Hosker, R.P.: 1974, ‘A Comparison of Estimation Procedures for Overwater Plume Dispersion’, Proceedings of the Symposium on Atmospheric Diffusion and Air Pollution. American Meteorological Society, 281–288.

  • Hsu, S.A.: 1979, ‘An Operational Forecasting Model for the Variation of Mean Maximum Mixing Heights across the Coastal Zone’, Bound. Lay. Meteorol., 16, 93–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, N.A.: 1976, ‘The Propagation of Modified Flow Downstream of a Change in Roughness’, Q.J. Roy. Met. Soc., 102, 924.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondo, J.: 1975, ‘Air-Sea Bulk Transfer Conditions in Diabatic Conditions’, Bound. Lay. Meteorol., 9, 91–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenschow, D.H., J.C. Wyngaard, and W.T. Pennell: 1980, ‘Mean Field and Second-Moment Budgets in a Baroclinic, Convective Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 37: 1313–1326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, W.A.: 1975, ‘Turbulent Diffusion and Pollutant Transport in Shoreline Environments,’ Lectures on Air Poll. and Environ. Impact Analyses, American Meteorological Society, 136–208.

  • Nieuwstadt, F.T.M.: 1977, ‘The Dispersion of Pollutants over a Water Surface,’ Eight Int. Tech. Meeting on Air Poll. Modeling and its Applic. NATO/CCMS Doc. No. 80, 337–359.

  • Panofsky, H.A. and G.W. Brier: 1963, ‘Some Applications of Statistics to Meteorology’. The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA, 224 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panofsky, H.A., H. Tennekes, D.H. Lenschow and J.C. Wyngaard: 1977, ‘The Characteristics of Turbulent Velocity Components in the Surface Layer under Convective Conditions’ Bound. Lay. Meteorol., 11, 355–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynoret al.: 1979, ‘Formation and Characteristics of Coastal Internal Boundary Layers During Onshore Flow’, Bound. Lay. Meteorol., 16, 487–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schacher, G.E., K.L. Davidson and C.W. Fairall: 1982, ‘Atmospheric Marine Boundary Layer Convective Mixing Velocities in the California Coastal Region’, Atmos. Environ., 16, 1183–1192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulman, L.L. and J.S. Scire: 1980, ‘Development of an Air Quality Dispersion Model for Aluminum Reduction Plants’, Document P07304A. Environmental Research & Technology, Inc., Concord, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strimaitis, D.G., A. Venkatram and T.F. Lavery: 1983, ‘A Model to Estimate Concentrations during Plume Impingement,’ Preprints. Sixth Symposium on Turbulence and Diffusion. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 28–31.

  • Turner, D. 1969, Workbook of Atmospheric Dispersion Estimates. Office of Air Programs Publication No. AP-26. U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zilitinkevich, S.S.: 1975, ‘Resistance Laws and Prediction Equations for the Depth of the Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci., 32, 741–752.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hanna, S.R., Paine, R.J. & Schulman, L.L. Overwater dispersion in coastal regions. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 30, 389–411 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121963

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121963

Keywords

Navigation