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Sensitivity of Gaussian plume model to dispersion specifications

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Summary

Variations in computed ground-level pollutant concentrations resulting from different sigma schemes in a Gaussian plume model have been investigated. Deviations from a standard calculation may be as large as orders of magnitude and are mostly associated with Pasquill-Gifford-Turner classes pertaining to active diffusion (classes A through D) in the rural case and to poor diffusion (classes E and F) in the urban one. The implications of these results as regards impact assessment studies are briefly discussed.

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Carrascal, M.D., Puigcerver, M. & Puig, P. Sensitivity of Gaussian plume model to dispersion specifications. Theor Appl Climatol 48, 147–157 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00864921

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